With U.S. doors shutting, Cubans turn to Brazil for asylum

For years, many Cubans hoping to leave the island looked to the United States. Now, with legal pathways largely closed, a growing number are heading to Brazil instead.

A man pushes his bicycle along a trash-strewn street in Havana, Cuba, Tuesday, June 9, 2026.

For years, many Cubans hoping to leave the island looked to the United States. Now, with legal pathways largely closed, a growing number are heading to Brazil instead.

(Image credit: Ramon Espinosa)