Brazil implemented restrictions in 2024 preventing some arrivals at São Paulo's main international airport from seeking asylum. The Brazilian government stated the asylum restriction at São Paulo's airport aimed to prevent migrants from using the country as a stepping stone to reach the United States and to combat human trafficking.

The policy change occurred as more than 41,000 Cubans applied for asylum in Brazil last year. Many Cuban migrants fly to Guyana, which is visa-free for Cubans, before crossing into Brazil through the Amazon. The Trump administration closed most pathways for Cuban migration to the United States.

São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil and the capital of the state of São Paulo. Brazil is a country in South America with its capital in Brasília. The World Bank classifies the nation as an upper-middle-income economy. Brazil was established in 1822.

Brazil offers asylum seekers permission to work and access to government social services. The Brazilian justice ministry stated its policies toward Cuban migrants would follow Brazilian law. U.N. migrants' rights expert Gehad Madi said Brazil's rights-based, non-criminalizing and open approach to human mobility stands out as a leading example in Latin America.

The restriction targets a specific transit route used by migrants seeking entry to the United States, which is located primarily in North America. By limiting asylum applications at the airport in São Paulo, authorities aim to disrupt networks that facilitate movement through South America toward the northern border. The scale of recent applications shows the volume of individuals utilizing Brazil as part of their journey.

The measure contrasts with the country's broader legal framework for migration. While the government cited human trafficking concerns as a justification for the airport rule, officials maintained that general policies would remain consistent with domestic law. The Executive Office of the President published a presidential document titled "Actions by the United States in the Investigations Under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 of the Acts, Policies, and Practices of 60 Economies Related to the Failure of Each Economy To Impose and Effectively Enforce a Prohibition on the Importation of Goods Produced With Forced Labor" on 2026-07-28.

Why It Matters

The restriction limits access to work permissions and social services for asylum seekers at a key entry point, altering the conditions for those utilizing Brazil as a transit route. This measure tests the country's standing as a regional leader in rights-based mobility while authorities attempt to disrupt networks facilitating movement toward the United States. The policy shift occurs as closed U.S. pathways drive more than 41,000 Cubans to seek refuge in Brazil, creating tension between specific border controls and broader legal frameworks.