The economic crisis in Cuba has driven hundreds of thousands of its inhabitants to dangerous and prolonged journeys, and to temporarily seek refuge in remote and rugged places, in search of a better life, preferably in the United States, as is the case of Cuban Miguel Hidalgo, who is currently staying in a shelter in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon.
Hidalgo, 52, is one of the many Cubans who left their homeland in what is considered the largest migratory exodus in the history of the island.
Years ago, he tried to reach the United States. He left Cuba for Suriname, then arrived in Brazil, and has no plans to leave that country in the near future, according to a report from the American news agency AP.
The Cuban is one of the dozens of immigrants who are housed in shelters in the state of Acre, specifically in its capital city, Rio Branco, near the border with Bolivia.
"I like Brazil. I have been here for a short time, but people don't have prejudices against me, people are friendly," Hidalgo told AP.
"I want to live like a human being. I do not ask for riches. I want to live peacefully, help my family in Cuba," stated the Cuban migrant, who is seen in a photo from the report while having a glass of milk for breakfast, last June 22nd.
AP does not provide further details about the Cuban or the shelter where he lives, but it does describe the precarious conditions of another shelter, located in the city of Assis Brasil, bordering Peru. The wooden building has only six rooms, where 45 people from different nationalities are accommodated. The report did not specify if there are also Cuban immigrants there.
Gladson Camelli, governor of Acre - the westernmost state of Brazil - expressed to AP his concern that a larger influx of South American immigrants may occur in the near future. "Our government has tried to do its part in providing humanitarian support," he stated.
Several immigrants refugees in Acre, interviewed by the news agency, commented that they decided to pause their journey towards the United States and remain in Brazil, after the administration of President Joe Biden issued an executive order suspending asylum for migrants who crossed the border with Mexico illegally.
Last week, the U.S. government reported that detentions for illegal crossings from Mexico decreased by more than 40%, since the temporary suspension of asylum processing at the border of both countries on June 5th. The AP highlighted that less than 2,400 arrests per day were recorded for the first time during Biden's term.
Last May, 18,988 Cubans arrived on U.S. soil, the majority through the land border separating the country from Mexico, according to the monthly data published by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
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