The U.S. Department of State has announced the revocation of visas and the imposition of visa restrictions on several Brazilian government officials, former Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) officials, and their family members. The action targets those identified as complicit in the Cuban regime’s labor export scheme connected to Brazil’s Mais Médicos program.
According to the Department of State, these individuals were involved in facilitating a system that exploited Cuban medical workers through forced labor practices. The scheme is said to have benefited the Cuban government financially while limiting access to essential medical care for Cubans.
The statement from the Department noted that “as part of Brazil’s Mais Médicos program, these officials used PAHO as an intermediary with the Cuban dictatorship to implement the program without following Brazilian constitutional requirements, dodging U.S. sanctions on Cuba, and knowingly paying the Cuban regime what was owed to Cuban medical workers.” Reports from dozens of Cuban doctors who participated in Mais Médicos described experiences of exploitation by authorities in Cuba during their service abroad.
Among those whose visas have been revoked are Mozart Julio Tabosa Sales and Alberto Kleiman. Both served in Brazil’s Ministry of Health during the period when Mais Médicos was active and are described as having played roles in planning and implementing the program.
The Department stated: “Our action sends an unmistakable message that the United States promotes accountability for those who enable the Cuban regime’s forced labor export scheme.”
This move comes amid ongoing concerns about international labor practices involving Cuba and reflects continued U.S. efforts to enforce sanctions against activities perceived as supporting coercive labor arrangements by foreign governments.
