Cuban migrants are increasingly seeking asylum in Brazil as the administration closed most pathways for their migration to the United States.
José Ramírez, a 57-year-old Cuban migrant, is among the thousands of people fleeing Cuba's economic and fuel crisis who are now turning to Brazil for asylum. As the administration cracked down on immigration and closed most pathways for Cubans to reach the United States, Brazil has emerged as a primary destination. Brazil offers asylum-seekers the right to work and access to government social services, making it an attractive alternative to the U.S. The migration pattern has shifted, with many Cubans flying to Guyana and crossing the Amazon to reach Brazil. While the administration's pressure to curb northward migration influenced Brazil's policy, Brazil continues to accept migrants at a time when other nations are tightening borders. Rights groups have called for Brazil to issue broad residency permission for Cuban migrants, similar to how it handled Venezuelans. However, the Brazilian government maintains that its policies will follow Brazilian law, while some officials suggest that ideological sympathies between the administration and Cuba may influence future decisions.