Carlos Portugal Gouvêa, a Brazilian visiting professor at Harvard Law School, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on December 3, 2025, following an incident in October where he discharged a pellet gun near Temple Beth Zion in Brookline, Massachusetts, on the eve of Yom Kippur. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) labeled the event an “anti-Semitic shooting,” a characterization that contrasts with assessments from local authorities and the synagogue itself. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/harvard-professor-arrested-by-us-immigration-agents-after-firing-pellet-gun-near-2025-12-05/?utm_source=openai))
On October 1, Brookline Police responded to reports of gunfire near Temple Beth Zion during Yom Kippur services. Gouvêa informed officers that he was using a pellet gun to hunt rats and was unaware of the synagogue’s proximity or the significance of the holiday. Temple Beth Zion’s leadership conveyed to their community that the incident did not appear to be motivated by antisemitism. ([thecrimson.com](https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2025/10/6/gouvea-synagogue/?utm_source=openai))
Gouvêa faced charges including illegally discharging a pellet gun, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, and vandalism. In November, he reached a plea agreement resulting in six months of pretrial probation and restitution payment, with other charges dismissed. ([thecrimson.com](https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2025/11/24/pellet-gun-plea-deal-hls/?utm_source=openai))
Following the plea deal, the U.S. State Department revoked Gouvêa’s visa on October 16. ICE agents arrested him on December 3, and he agreed to voluntarily depart the United States, returning to Brazil on December 4. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/e05208fb596d2759e438b983f4ce3c9c?utm_source=openai))
The DHS’s classification of the incident as antisemitic has been met with differing views. Temple Beth Zion and local law enforcement have indicated that Gouvêa was unaware of the synagogue’s presence and the holiday, suggesting no antisemitic intent. ([thecrimson.com](https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2025/10/6/gouvea-synagogue/?utm_source=openai))
Gouvêa, an associate professor at the University of São Paulo Law School and CEO of the Global Law Institute, had been teaching at Harvard during the fall semester. Harvard Law School placed him on administrative leave pending further investigation. ([thecrimson.com](https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2025/10/5/hls-visiting-prof-arrested?utm_source=openai))
This case underscores the complexities in interpreting intent and the challenges in balancing immigration enforcement with local judicial outcomes.