Yamileisis Fleitas Cruz, a Cuban mother, recently arrived in Brazil with her daughter Angélica—a teenager who requires a wheelchair—her six-year-old son Rolandito, and her husband. This marked the end of a journey she described as filled with both uncertainty and hope.
"We left Cuba like so many others do, with a backpack full of uncertainties and fears but also brimming with hope and the immense desire to keep fighting for a better future for Angélica," Yamileisis shared on Facebook.
The family, originally from Artemisa, has settled in Boa Vista, the capital of Roraima state. Just two days after stepping onto Brazilian soil, they completed the necessary formalities with the Federal Police and secured the documents required to start their new life.
It was right after leaving this appointment that the youngest member of the family uttered words that his mother will always remember: "Mom, you were so right, my sister has many opportunities here."
Yamileisis acknowledged that the journey demanded "a lot of courage, patience, and strength" due to Angélica's condition but emphasized that her younger son's words encapsulate all that the family feels at this moment.
"We continue forward, with faith, hope, and the certainty that dreams, when fought for with love, always find a way," she concluded.
This family's story is part of a larger pattern among Cubans emigrating with children who need specialized care. In July, mother Arianelis Ramírez sought help to get her daughter Sara, who suffers from cerebral palsy worsened by daily power outages of over 20 hours, out of the country.
At the end of August, Dalma Rosell Marrero was raising funds to take her seven-year-old son, who has a rare chromosomal disorder, to Argentina in search of specialized care.
Brazil has emerged as the primary destination for Cuban emigrants. From January to April this year, 13,414 Cuban immigrants filed for refugee status in the South American nation, according to the International Migration Observatory (OBMigra).
This figure represents 58% of the total asylum applications (22,938) submitted in Brazil during that period, solidifying Cubans as the leading nationality seeking asylum there.
The pace of the first quarter suggests an annual total that could exceed 40,000 applications for the second consecutive year, reflecting a sustained acceleration in Cuban emigration to Brazil in 2025.
That year, Cuban asylum applications reached a historic high, surpassing 41,900, an 88% increase compared to the approximately 22,300 recorded in 2024, according to the International Organization for Migration's (IOM) Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM).
Understanding the Cuban Migration to Brazil
Why are many Cubans choosing Brazil as their destination?
Brazil has become a popular destination for Cuban emigrants due to its refugee policies and the opportunities it offers for a better life, especially for those requiring specialized care, such as individuals with disabilities.
What are the challenges faced by Cuban families with special needs children when emigrating?
Cuban families with special needs children face challenges such as securing necessary documentation, adapting to a new environment, and finding appropriate medical and educational resources to support their children's needs.