Driven out by severe fuel shortages, daily blackouts, and a worsening economic crisis in their homeland—and facing shut doors in the United States—tens of thousands of Cubans are turning toward an unexpected destination: Brazil.
In a dramatic reversal of traditional migration routes that once saw travelers trekking northward, Cubans are now journeying south. Last year, a record 41,000 Cubans applied for asylum in Brazil, according to official government data, part of an unprecedented surge in national protection requests.
The journey itself demands endurance and resourcefulness. Because neighboring Guyana allows visa-free entry for Cuban passport holders, many migrants fly to Georgetown before making the overland crossing through the Amazon rainforest into northern Brazil.
For 57-year-old José Ramírez, who relocated to the industrial city of Volta Redonda in southeastern Brazil after the Trump administration curtailed U.S. migration pathways, the move offered relief from constant hardship. After securing a job at an air conditioning company, Ramírez reflected on his new environment, citing freedom, reliable electricity, adequate food, and a decent wage as the primary benefits of his new life.
Unlike many Western and Latin American nations currently tightening their borders, Brazil maintains a largely welcoming legal framework. Foreign-born residents account for roughly 1% of the country’s population, and political resistance to migration remains relatively muted. Even vocal far-right Brazilian politicians often express sympathy for people escaping left-wing autocracies in Havana and Caracas. During a visit in March, Gehad Madi, a United Nations expert on migrants' rights, praised Brazil's non-criminalizing, rights-based approach as a leading example in Latin America.
Nevertheless, challenges persist. Under U.S. pressure to stem northbound transit, Brazil introduced measures prohibiting incoming travelers at São Paulo’s main international airport from applying for asylum if they lack proper documentation, aiming to deter migrants from using the country as a stepping stone. Furthermore, while asylum claims grant temporary legal protection and work permits, final determinations can take years. Rights groups like Missão Paz and Caritas have urged the Brazilian government to grant broad residency permissions to Cubans, similar to past measures for Venezuelan migrants.
Despite legal ambiguities and lengthy waits, the promise of stability continues to draw thousands of Cubans monthly. As Beatriz Céspedes, a Cuban migrant living in Rio de Janeiro, noted, the country offers countless opportunities that provide much-needed peace of mind amid ongoing uncertainty.