Nicaraguan government blocks key pathway used by Cuban migrants to reach United States

"MEXICO CITY (AP) - Nicaragua's government on Sunday blocked Cuban citizens from entering the country without a visa, effectively cutting off a key route for Cuban migration to the United States at a time when the Trump administration has put the Caribbean island in an economic chokehold. Nicaragua's government confirmed to The Associated Press that it suspended an exemption that allows Cubans to enter the Central American nation without a visa."

"The move would effectively cut off Cubans from a country that has long acted as a bridge for Caribbean migrants traveling to the U.S. For years, Cuban migrants would fly to Nicaragua and meet up with smugglers, who would then help them migrate north through Central America and Mexico to get to the U.S. border. Experts say Nicaragua kept its doors open to people from countries like Cuba and Haiti in a move to weaponize migrants fleeing turmoil against its longtime adversary, the U.S."

Nicaragua suspended a visa exemption for Cuban nationals, preventing Cubans from entering without visas and severing a key migration corridor used to reach the United States. Cuban migrants historically flew to Nicaragua, then traveled north with smugglers through Central America and Mexico to the U.S. border. Experts say Nicaragua kept its borders open to citizens of countries like Cuba and Haiti to pressure the U.S. The change coincides with intensified U.S. measures against adversary governments and actions that have deepened Cuba’s economic crisis, increasing emigration pressures while limiting access to U.S. asylum. What remains is primarily Guyana.

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