State Department revokes visas for Brazilian officials connected to Cuban regime's labor scheme

The State Department on Wednesday announced it was revoking U.S. visas for certain Brazilian officials, their families, and former Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) officials tied to the Cuban government's labor export scheme.

The labor scheme exploited Cuban medical workers through forced labor to the benefit of the Cuban regime, and deprived regular Cuban citizens of access to critical medical care. 

The department specifically named Mozart Julio Tabosa Sales and Alberto Kleiman, who worked in Brazil’s Ministry of Health during the controversial Mais Médicos program, which started in 2013.

"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," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

"Dozens of Cuban doctors that served in the program have reported being exploited by the Cuban regime as part of the program," he continued. "Our action sends an unmistakable message that the United States promotes accountability for those who enable the Cuban regime’s forced labor export scheme."

The department also said it would impose visa restrictions on the officials and their families but did not specify what the restrictions entailed. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.