Increased Consular Services in Havana, Pause on a Key Migrant Parole Program
Thursday, August 15, 2024 - Edition 781
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Welcome to CEDA’s US-Cuba News Brief, where we highlight and break down recent news about Cuba and U.S.-Cuba relations. To share this week’s brief, click here.
This week, the U.S. Embassy in Havana announced expanded visa services. This move marks a noteworthy shift in visa services, with renewed categories for temporary work and exchange programs now available for various categories of applicants, including athletes, artists and entertainers, members of a religious denomination performing religious work, and international cultural exchange participants. Importantly, B-1 and B-2 visas–for business and tourism, respectively–remain excluded. Earlier this month, the Biden Administration paused a key parole program – Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans –, which will impact Cuban migration patterns to the US. The program allowed for 30,000 nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to legally enter the US per month and remain for a period of two years, provided they have a fiscal sponsor in the US, among other requirements. It has been paused to allow the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to investigate allegations of fraud. Finally, Cuban athletes shined on the global stage at the Paris Olympics, many competing for countries other than Cuba.
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Thank you for your continued engagement.
U.S.-CUBA RELATIONS
U.S. Embassy in Havana Announces Increased Consular Services for Cubans
Starting August 19, the U.S. Embassy in Havana will expand visa services to include specific temporary work and exchange program visas, but not B-1/B-2 visas for business or tourism, which still require travel to another U.S. Embassy or consulate in a third country.
Politico: Washington and Havana are stuck at a diplomatic impasse
Both Washington and Havana are saying the other needs to do more before additional progress can be made on repairing diplomatic ties.
Newsweek: Biden Administration Pauses Migrant Paroles From 4 Countries, Including Cuba
The Department of Homeland Security temporarily paused a program that grants a two year parole to up to 30,000 immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela per month while investigating fraud allegations. The suspension was implemented to ensure the integrity of the process, following reports of repeated use of the same sponsor information across thousands of applications.
Rubio, Scott Introduce Resolution Condemning Cuban Regime
The resolution–among other things–promotes the continuation of Cuba on the State Sponsors of Terrorism List, opposes any revision of United States policy towards Cuba without political change in Cuba, and seeks Cuba’s expulsion from the United Nations Human Rights Council.
CUBA NEWS
New York Times: Cuban wrestler Mijain Lopez becomes first to win 5 gold medals in same individual event
The 41-year-old Cuban defeated Cuban-born Yasmani Acosta Fernandez of Chile 6-0 in the 130-kilogram final at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday to win his fifth consecutive gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling. He’s the first Olympic athlete to win gold in the same event at five consecutive Games, and the first wrestler to win five gold medals.
AFP: Spain's Jordan Diaz wins men's triple jump gold in 'Cuban sweep'
Three Cuban-born athletes medaled in the men’s triple jump at the Olympics; none of whom wore Cuba’s jersey. Portugal's Pedro Pichardo, the defending champion, took silver while Andy Diaz representing Italy claimed the bronze.
Recommended Readings, Viewings and Events:
Listen: Is Cuba Still A State Supporting Terrorism?
Australian Broadcasting Company Radio National (ABC RN) dives into the designation of Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism list with Jason Blazakis, Director of the Center on Terrorism, Extremism and Counterterrorism at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.
Read: The Ghosts of the Cuban National Ballet
Jennifer Homans on Diana Markosian's photographs of women ballet dancers with the Cuban National Ballet.
Watch: Cuban Olympians including Mijaín López return home from Paris to hero’s welcome in Havana
Go: Hearing Cuban Voices in Times of Crisis
Tuesday, September 17 | New York City
The late historian Elizabeth Dore’s book, How Things Fall Apart, explores modern Cuba through post-Soviet voices. This panel, featuring Flor Barceló, Brooke Larson, and Ted A. Henken, discusses her legacy, book analysis, and Columbia University’s “Cuban Voices” oral history collection.
The views and opinions expressed by authors are their own and articles do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of CEDA.
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