Nicaragua’s government has blocked Cubans from entering the Central American country without a visa, a move that eliminates a route for Cuban migration to the U.S.
For years, Cuban migrants have flown to Nicaragua to meet with smugglers, who then help them travel north through Mexico to reach the U.S. border, according to The Associated Press.
However, Nicaragua’s government confirmed to the AP that on Sunday it suspended an exemption allowing Cubans to enter Nicaragua without a visa.
Nicaragua’s action comes after the President issued an executive order in late January declaring a national emergency over Cuba, accusing the communist regime of aligning with hostile foreign powers and terrorist groups while moving to penalize countries that supply oil to the island.
The primary remaining option for Cuban migrants is Guyana, a small South American nation where Cubans have also traveled to reach the U.S.
From Guyana, migrants usually travel through the dangerous jungle terrain of the Darien Gap, which separates Colombia and Panama.
In the past, migrants with few other choices have also taken risky boat rides from Cuba to Florida’s coast.
In Trump’s executive order, the president said Cuba aligns with and supports “numerous hostile countries, transnational terrorist groups, and malign actors adverse to the United States,” naming Russia, China, Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah.
The administration stated that Cuba hosts Russia’s largest overseas signals intelligence facility, which the order says attempts to steal sensitive U.S. national security information.
Last November, Trump said, “Democracy is on trial in the coming Elections in the beautiful country of Honduras on November 30th.”
“Will Maduro and his narcoterrorists take over another country as they have with Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela?” he asked.
Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro was captured in a U.S. military operation in early January.
Digital’s Jasmine Baehr and