Location:  United States

Event:  U.S. Embassy and Consulates General Closed June 18 to Commemorate Juneteenth National Independence Day

Today, President Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, establishing June 19th as a federal holiday.  As the 19th falls on a Saturday, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates General in Brazil will observe the holiday by closing consular operations tomorrow, Friday, June 18th.  Please contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General closest to you to reschedule any consular appointments originally scheduled for June 18th.

Juneteenth National Independence Day celebrates the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas learned of their freedom by President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. The date has long been celebrated in the United States, especially among African-Americans, and today’s declaration recognizes the importance of the holiday for all Americans. To learn more about Juneteenth, click here.

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