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The number of Cubans seeking refuge in Brazil has significantly increased in 2025, reflecting the worsening economic and social crisis in Cuba and the tightening of living conditions under the regime of Miguel Díaz-Canel.
According to official data cited by the Cuba Study Group, between January and September of this year, 30,731 Cubans applied for refuge in Brazilian territory.
The figure is alarming when compared to the total of 52,373 requests recorded between 2010 and 2024, which demonstrates unprecedented growth in the last three years.
Brazilian authorities indicate that, although the increase could be interpreted as a sign of greater openness, Cubans do not have special protection status, and each case is assessed individually by the National Committee for Refugees (CONARE).
As of the end of September 2025, 17,818 Cubans were living legally in Brazil, the majority through family reunification processes. Of these, 79% obtained residency through connections with relatives who had already regularized their status in the country.
Historically, Brazil has not been one of the main destinations for Cuban emigration, which has been more inclined towards the United States, Mexico, or Spain. However, recent figures show a shift in this trend.
In 2021, only 0.4% of Cuban emigrants had chosen Brazil as their destination; by 2024, that proportion rose to 9.1%, and preliminary data for 2025 confirms that the immigration flow continues to increase
Analysts indicate that this change is also related to the stricter immigration policies of President Donald Trump, which have limited irregular routes and tightened asylum requirements at the southern border of the United States. In this context, many Cubans are seeking alternatives in South America, and Brazil has become a more accessible option.
The phenomenon also reflects the desperation of thousands of families fleeing the collapse of the Cuban system, marked by blackouts, inflation, and political repression, in search of freedom and a dignified future far from the Island.
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