CURITIBA, Brazil — The southern Brazilian city of Curitiba has emerged as an unexpected refuge for Cuban migrants, as changes in U.S. immigration policy and deteriorating conditions in Cuba are prompting more Cubans to seek asylum farther south.
Traditionally, Cuban migrants traveled north toward the United States, often attempting perilous sea voyages or traveling overland through Latin America. However, with tightened U.S. border controls under the Trump administration and reduced legal pathways into the country, many Cuban migrants are now turning to Brazil. Last year, Brazil received 44,381 asylum applications from Cubans—more than any other Latin American country and double the previous year’s number, according to CEDA, a Washington-based nonprofit tracking Cuban migration. This marks the first time Cuban asylum claims in Brazil have outnumbered those from Venezuelans, a large migrant group in the region.
The shift reflects worsening conditions on the island, including widespread shortages of electricity and food, and economic strain exacerbated by U.S. sanctions, such as an oil embargo. Cuban officials report that over one million citizens—approximately 10 percent of the population—have left since 2021.
Many Cubans fly to Guyana, one of the few visa-free destinations accessible, before embarking on difficult journeys through the Brazilian Amazon with the help of smugglers. These routes, fraught with dangers including threats of violence and hazardous terrain, lead migrants to Brazil’s southern cities, where job opportunities are relatively abundant. Cuban migrants have integrated into local communities in Curitiba, participating in sports such as baseball and softball, holding jobs in construction and hospitality, and opening cultural venues like Cuban bars.
Brazilian authorities acknowledge increasing challenges in managing migration flows across the country’s extensive jungle borders. Despite stepped-up efforts, smugglers exploit unmonitored river crossings and trails, complicating enforcement.
Experts note that South America was not previously seen as a typical destination for Cuban migrants. “From the Cuban perspective, South America was never a place to go,” said Jorge Duany, former director of the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University, but indicated that trends are now evolving.
Individual migrants recount personal reasons for leaving Cuba. Rolando Tamayo, who now runs a Cuban bar in Curitiba, said he grew disillusioned with the Cuban government after working at Havana’s Hotel Nacional and witnessing stark inequality. Initially intending to move to the United States via family connections, he chose to remain in Brazil after delays in paperwork and personal ties.
Many Cubans express no intention of returning home soon. Elena González, a 22-year-old fashion student in Curitiba, said that even if conditions in Cuba improve due to external pressures, recovery will take years, and returning is not currently an option.
As Cuba’s economic crisis deepens and U.S. immigration policies remain restrictive, Brazil appears poised to remain a significant destination for Cuban asylum seekers, reshaping migration patterns across the Americas.