Cuba is willing to accept more deportation flights from the U.S. for Cuban migrants who have arrived at the southern border in large numbers over the past three years. The U.S. has restarted deportation flights to the island, sending one flight per month, but Cuban officials are open to accommodating more flights. Washington and Havana have a complicated relationship, but they have worked together on immigration, signing the U.S.-Cuba Migration Accords in 1994 and intensifying efforts in recent years due to the influx of Cuban migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Since the start of fiscal year 2021, over 450,000 Cuban migrants have been processed at the southern border. The flow of Cuban migrants has slowed down since last year, with the Biden administration implementing programs that allow some Cubans to enter the U.S. legally. Cuban officials blame the exodus on the U.S. embargo and other American policies, such as the Cuban Adjustment Act, which provides a pathway to permanent U.S. residency for certain Cuban migrants. The economic conditions and political repression in Cuba have driven more people to leave the country.
Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío called for the resumption of tourist and short-term visa processing in Havana to provide legal channels for Cuban citizens to come to the U.S. Currently, short-term visa seekers in Cuba need to travel to a third country for processing. U.S. officials have indicated that they will resume full visa processing in Cuba in the future. Fernández de Cossío expressed concerns about potential additional U.S. sanctions if former President Donald Trump is re-elected in the future given the more aggressive stance towards Cuba during his tenure.
The Biden administration has continued some of the policies put in place by the Trump administration, causing apprehension among Cuban officials regarding the possibility of more sanctions in the future. While Fernández de Cossío acknowledged the potential for further economic measures against Cuba, he deemed them unfair and immoral. Despite the strained relationship between the two countries, efforts are being made to address the issue of Cuban migration and find solutions that benefit both nations. Discussions between U.S. and Cuban officials continue as they navigate the complex issue of immigration and work towards a resolution.
