U.S.-Cuba Migration Talks Take Place in Havana; Senator Rubio Questions Cuban Refugees’ Status | November 17, 2023
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This week, we report on the second round of bilateral migration talks this year that took place in Havana on Tuesday. While Cuban irregular migration through Nicaragua remains on the rise, leading to potential repercussions from the U.S. State Department for those facilitating this travel, Senator Marco Rubio’s questioned the refugee status of Cubans who frequently visit the island, after being granted asylum in the United States. Last Monday, Cuba hosted an international Business Fair in Havana, with over 800 companies–including Cuban micro, small, and medium size enterprises–from 60 countries. As a sign of strengthening bilateral relations, President Xi Jinping and Cuba’s Prime Minister Manuel Marrero recently met in Beijing to sign unspecified cooperation documents.
See you next week!
U.S.-CUBA RELATIONS
U.S.-Cuba Migration Talks Take Place in Havana
Last Tuesday, officials from Cuba and the United States met in Havana, amidst a growing exodus from the island, as part of regular semiannual talks to discuss the U.S.-Cuba Migration Accords (U.S. Embassy in Cuba). Cuba’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Fernández de Cossio, reiterated that “the [U.S.] reinforcement of economic sanctions and, in particular, the inclusion of Cuba on the list of state sponsors of terrorism, has a direct impact on the living conditions of the Cuban population and on the motivations that Cubans have to emigrate.” The U.S. Department of State issued a statement underscoring their commitment to maintaining constructive engagement with Cuba’s government and emphasizing that the discussions are “consistent with our interest in fostering family reunification and promoting greater respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba.” Both nations agreed that they seek to guarantee “safe, orderly, and humane regular migration between Cuba and the United States.” This marks the fourth occasion that both countries have convened to discuss migration issues since the inauguration of the Biden-Harris Administration.
Senator Rubio Questions Refugee Status for Cuban Immigrants
During a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on November 8, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) voiced concerns about the travel patterns of Cuban refugees who, after being granted asylum in the United States, return to Cuba—a country they “supposedly fled [due to] political persecution” (CBS). Senator Rubio questioned Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, stating, “if a year later you’re here as a refugee, but you’re going back to Cuba six times, shouldn’t you at least lose the refugee status?” Mr. Mayorkas expressed his intention to follow up with Senator Rubio’s inquiry, rephrasing the matter at hand as whether a refugee’s “desire and travel to the country of origin militate against the legitimacy of their claim.” Senator Rubio emphasized the automatic eligibility for refugee cash, food stamps, and Medicaid that Cuban refugees receive upon arrival, contrasting it with the five-year waiting period for immigrants of other nationalities. Mr. Mayorkas clarified that Senator Rubio had “misdescribed the Cuban Adjustment Act,” and that the United States still “removes” individuals to Cuba. As CDA previously reported, a recent September ruling, dictated that entering the US with anI-220A document, or Order of Release on Recognizance, fails to meet the requisite criteria for adjustment of status under the Cuban Adjustment Act of having been “inspected, admitted, or paroled” to the United States. According to the court’s ruling, entering on conditional parole, as with the I-220A document, does not constitute legal entry and cannot be considered a parole for purposes of residency, such as humanitarian parole, which therefore precludes adjustment of status under the CAA. The CAA provides Cubans with an expedited path to U.S. residency in comparison to other nationalities. Largely due to the CAA, Cubans are significantly more likely to become naturalized citizens in comparison to other foreign-born populations. Historically, the majority of Cubans who achieved legal permanent residence status have done so through the humanitarian channel due to the benefits afforded under the CAA, according to the Migration Policy Institute.
U.S-Cuba Relations Recommended Readings and Viewings
New Orleans bounce music artist Big Freedia arrives in Cuba
This Tuesday, renowned New Orleans bounce music artist Big Freedia arrived in Havana for a series of events she’s hosting until November 20 (OnCuba News). The hip-hop artist is scheduled to be “the first major international LGBTQ artist to perform” at Fábrica de Arte Cubano on November 18, where she will interact with Cuban musicians. The objective of the trip is to fortify cultural connections between New Orleans and Cuba, focusing on African heritage in Cuba. Throughout her visit, she intends to hold discussions with the LGBTIQ+ community and Cuban entrepreneurs, exploring business opportunities and challenges in the country.
IN CUBA
Emerging MIPYMES transforming Cuba’s retail landscape amid economic challenges
The number of approved micro, small, and medium size enterprises (MSMEs or MIPYMES in Spanish) exceeded 9,000 as of last Friday (OnCuba News).These enterprises, which were legalized in August 2021, face limitations in accessing sectors deemed “strategic” by the State, including health, telecommunications, energy, defense, and the media (OnCuba News). In recent months, a surge of small grocery stores have emerged throughout Cuba under the legal umbrella of MIPYMES (AP News). Operating primarily from private homes or garages, these establishments are gaining traction due to the wide range of products they offer that were previously unavailable on the island. Despite their growing visibility, the prices at these stores are deemed steep and many Cubans acknowledge that they are inaccessible–even those who can afford these products refer to them as a luxury. Most of these products are directly imported by the MIPYMES through state-run import agencies, allowing for better stocked establishments. The emergence of these stores, including larger outlets like the "Cuban Costco," indicates a significant change in Cuba's traditionally state-dominated retail sector, providing more variety but also highlighting economic disparities (AP News).
In Cuba Recommended Readings and Viewings
Cuban Mothers Protest Lack of Drinking Water in Havana
On Saturday, a group of mothers along with their children were joined by others in protesting the lack of potable water in La Habana Vieja (51 Miami News). The group of women sat on empty plastic water containers, blocking traffic, and demanding access to water. The current water shortage affects nearly half a million individuals residing in Cuba, and are affecting between 100,000 and 200,000 citizens of Havana. As CDA has often reported, the island continues to struggle with food and water shortages, as well as fuel shortages and frequent blackouts. For more information, read our interview on Cuba’s Energy Crisis with Jorge Piñon and our U.S.-Cuba Agricultural Relations interview with Paul Johnson on the current state of U.S.-Cuba agricultural relations, engaging with Cuba’s agriculture cooperatives and private sector, Cuba’s food crisis, and more.
CUBAN MIGRATION
Cuban migration through Nicaragua on the rise
As Cuba’s exodus continues to grow, Cuban migrants are increasingly resorting to a challenging migratory route via Nicaragua to reach the United States (Reuters). In January 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration launched a Humanitarian Parole Program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans (CHNV) intended to deter irregular immigration from nationals of those countries, which would allow upwards of 30,000 people from these countries to come to the U.S. for a period of two years. However, the CHNV process was accompanied by the restriction of access to asylum in the US. This, combined with the limitations of the ineligibility criteria, leads to migrants seeking alternative and dangerous migratory routes including taking a charter flight to Nicaragua to then travel over land to the US and has left hundreds of people in transit in Central America and Mexico stranded in countries where it is very difficult to obtain asylum and integrate. Following a truck accident in Chiapas, Mexico early last month that resulted in the death of ten Cuban migrants bound for the U.S.-Mexico border, Cuba’s Foreign Ministry released a statement acknowledging the “noticeable growth” of migrants going through Central America in the past months. Last week, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Brian A. Nichols issued a statement on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, expressing concern of “dramatic increase in Nicaragua-bound charter flights that facilitate irregular migration from Cuba” and emphasizing that the Department of State is “exploring the full range of possible consequences for those facilitating this means of irregular migration.”
Influx of Cuban migrants in the Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands Customs and Border Control is grappling with a significant influx of Cuban migrants, with 119 individuals under their supervision as of September 18 of this year (elToque). The director of Customs and Border Control Services, Charles Clifford, reported that expenses related to Cuban migrants exceeded 1.7 million dollars between January and August 2023. Legislation and asylum application processes have undergone changes to expedite the handling of applications, but reports of concerns about transparency persist (elToque). A 2015 Memorandum of Understanding on Migration allowed the Cayman Islands’ government to repatriate irregular Cuban migrants and reinstated the possibility of requesting asylum, but criticisms continued, culminating in the expansion of the immigration detention center in March 2022. The situation escalated in March 2023 when detainees protested unsanitary conditions, delayed food delivery, and lack of hygiene and cleaning products at the Immigration Detention Center.
4th Nation and Emigration Conference to be held this weekend in Havana
Havana is set to host the 4th The Nation and Emigration Conference on November 18 and 19, a dialogue between Cuban authorities and the diaspora (OnCuba News). It was originally set for 2020 but postponed due to COVID-19; the conference was last held in 2004. This conference occurs amid an economic crisis, an ongoing exodus to countries like the United States, and evolving immigration policies. Per official sources, as of last Friday, around 290 Cubans residing in over 40 countries have been digitally accredited, with an expected attendance of nearly 400 people based on invitations that were sent and expressed intentions to participate (OnCuba News).
Click here for data on Cuban migration to the United States, including total Cuban migration to the U.S. and the number of Cubans interdicted by the U.S. Coast Guard.
CUBA’S FOREIGN RELATIONS
Cuba Hosts International Business Fair in Havana
Last Monday, Cuba hosted the 39th edition of the Havana International Fair (Fihav-2023) at the EXPOCUBA fairgrounds, a business fair with over 800 companies–including Cuban MIPYMES–from 60 countries, including Spain, Russia, Iran and China (Reuters). The conference was held from November 6 until November 11 and was inaugurated by Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel. Financing challenges for private businesses persist due to U.S. sanctions, and while the Biden-Harris administration hinted at supportive measures for Cuban private businesses, specific regulations are yet to be unveiled. The fair also served diplomatic purposes as Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel met with various international government officials including Mexico’s undersecretary of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Economy, Alejandro Encinas Nájera. During the event Cuba’s Foreign Minister met with his Belize counterpart Eamon Courtenay to address bilateral relations.
China’s President Xi Jinping and Cuba’s Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Meet in Beijing
China’s President Xi Jinping met with Cuba’s Prime Minister Manuel Marrero in Beijing, following Prime Minister Marrero’s participation in the 6th China International Import Exhibition (CIIE) in Shanghai. Cuban and Chinese officials signed undisclosed cooperation documents after Prime Minister Marrero’s meeting with China’s Premier Li Qiang (Reuters). Both parties addressed various sectors to improve bilateral relations including transportation, biotechnology, agri-food, and digital television. The recent meeting emphasized China’s commitment to supporting Cuba, with President Xi stating that China is committed to “opposing foreign interference and embargoes, and safeguarding Cuba’s national sovereignty.”
Cuba’s Foreign Minister’s diplomatic exchange in Belarus
Last Thursday marked the arrival of Cuba’s Foreign Minister, Manuel Marrero, in Belarus for a three day trip to meet with Belarusian officials aimed at reinforcing bilateral relations between the two nations (OnCuba News). Prime Minister Marrero commenced his visit with a meeting with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko that included a discussion about “bringing trade issues closer to political issues.” Marrero held talks with various Belarusian leaders and officials, including a meeting with Belarusian Prime Minister, Román Golovchenko who reiterated his disapproval of the U.S. economic embargo against Cuba (Prensa Latina).
EVENTS
Film Screening and Discussion: OPTION ZERO, December 8 | Miami, FL
FIU will be screening OPTION ZERO, a documentary by Cuban filmmaker Marcel Beltrán. The film captures the journey of hundreds of Cubans using only cell phones to document their trek from Colombia to Panama in pursuit of entering the U.S. Through curated footage, Mr. Beltrán provides a firsthand account of their challenges, highlighting the sacrifices made along the way. This screening is part of the INSTAR Film Festival, organized by the Hannah Arendt Institute of Artivism, showcasing independent Cuban films internationally. The documentary has received acclaim at festivals in Trinidad and Tobago, Buenos Aires, Miami, and Guadalajara.
The Nutcracker presented by Miami Cuban Ballet School, December 9-10 | Homestead, FL
“The Nutcracker” presented by Miami Cuban Ballet School is a festive and enchanting full-length production that has become a cherished family holiday tradition. The performance is characterized by stunning scenery, vibrant costumes, and captivating characters. Directed by Valia Gonzalez, a former ballerina with the National Ballet of Cuba, and featuring a professional faculty with extensive experience, the school places a special emphasis on technique in its ballet training programs. The production follows Clara and her Nutcracker as they navigate a magical journey, battling a Mouse King, exploring a snow forest, and entering the enchanting Land of Sweets. Suitable for both children and adults, this production is a perfect way to celebrate the holiday season while showcasing the school's commitment to providing young students with a solid ballet foundation, artistic expression, discipline, and respect. Additionally, the Miami Cuban Ballet School stands out for its dedication to preparing serious dancers for prestigious ballet competitions, magnet programs, and college dance programs.
14th Conference on Cuban and Cuban American Studies, February 15-16, 2024 | Miami, FL
The Cuban Research Institute (CRI) of Florida International University (FIU) is organizing its Fourteenth Conference, inviting scholars to explore various aspects of the history, economy, politics, culture, society, and creative expression of Cuba and its diaspora. The conference, emphasizing the Latinization of Florida, discusses the demographic shift from 3% Hispanic origin in 1960 to 27.1% in 2021, with Latinos being the second-largest ethnic group. The event will delve into the impact on language, identity, and communities, particularly in Miami-Dade County. Florida's diverse Latino population, including Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, Colombians, and Venezuelans, is a focal point for examination. Topics include historical development, immigration patterns, economic contributions, cultural influences, and future trends.
The views and opinions expressed by authors are their own and articles do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of CDA.