Cuba Remains in 2024 U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report; Cuban Historian and Activist Detained by Police | June 25, 2024
Dear Friends,
In this week’s Cuba news:
Cuba’s proposed new immigration laws aim to update the regulations for Cubans living abroad but stop short of fully addressing the rights related to property ownership.
The U.S. government maintained Cuba in the lowest category (Tier 3) in its 2024 Trafficking in Persons report (TIP), which was released by the U.S. State Department yesterday.
Cuba faces growing concerns over the alleged increase in violent crime, challenging its once-held reputation as the safest country in the Western Hemisphere.
A federal judge ruled that Victor Manuel Rocha, a former American Ambassador convicted of acting as a covert agent for Cuba, does not have to pay restitution.
Cuban historian and activist Alina Bárbara López Hernández was arrested in Cuba with an alleged “attack” charge.
Cuba’s tourism sector has seen an increase from last year, with 1.1 million visitors as of May 2024, but it remains far from its 3.2 million annual target.
The fleet of Russian warships concluded their five-day visit to Havana after military drills, marking Russia’s first major naval presence in the region in five years.
US-Cuba Relations
Cuba Remains in 2024 U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report: The U.S. government maintained Cuba in the lowest category (Tier 3) in its annual 2024 Trafficking in Persons report (TIP), which was released by the U.S. State Department yesterday. The report, presented by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Special Ambassador Cindy Dyer, asserts that the Cuban government is not fully meeting the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and claims that Cuba is not making significant efforts to do so in what the State Department classifies as "Cuba's labor export program." The report notes that the international cooperation agreements negotiated by Cuba’s government with different countries, including for medical missions and also those involving teachers, artists, and athletes, among other professionals, have been criticized for their coercive recruitment practices and the exploitation of its workforce. Maria Werlau, a Cuban-American human rights activist, was honored by the State Department as one of the "TIP Heroes" for her efforts in combating human trafficking (WLRN). At the ceremony in Washington D.C., Secretary Blinken recognized individuals, including Werlau, who have made significant contributions to fighting human trafficking. Over the years, Cuban authorities have repeatedly stated that this rating does not reflect Cuba’s actual performance in actively combating human trafficking. Following the release of the report, Cuba's Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, responded on X, asserting that Cuba maintains a zero-tolerance policy against human trafficking. He criticized the report, stating, "The persistent inclusion of our country in these unilateral and arbitrary US government reports serves only to sustain and justify a criminal policy of economic strangulation against the Cuban people."
Judge Rules on Restitution for Convicted Former U.S. Ambassador Victor Manuel Rocha: A federal judge presided over a hearing on Friday to determine whether Victor Manuel Rocha, a former U.S. ambassador convicted of acting as a covert agent for Cuba, should pay restitution to victims in a national security case (the Miami Herald). However, U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom ruled that Rocha does not have to compensate anyone because, according to prosecutors, the only victim was the U.S. government. Rocha, sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined $500,000 in April, pleaded guilty to failing to disclose his role as an unregistered foreign agent for Cuba since the early 1980s but not to espionage. The former Ambassador started his career with the State Department in 1981 as a desk officer in Honduras, eventually serving as an Ambassador to Bolivia in 2000 before he retired. Prosecutors argued that no individuals came forward with evidence of harm caused by Rocha’s activities and emphasized his cooperation with U.S. authorities in assessing the impact of his operations. Rocha, who retired from the State Department in 2002 and was arrested in December following an FBI sting operation, has been described by federal officials as a significant figure in Cuban espionage within the U.S. government.
In Cuba
Cuban Historian and Activist Detained by Police: Alina Bárbara López Hernández, a renowned Cuban academic, historian, and a prominent member of Cuba’s intellectual and cultural circles, was arrested by Cuba’s police force on Tuesday, June 18. She is under investigation for allegedly assaulting a public official. Under Cuba's Penal Code, the crime of assault carries a sentence of two to five years in prison (TLDR Cuba). The details were disclosed by her daughter, Cecilia Borroto López, in a Facebook post, condemning what she described as severe violations against her mother. Dr. López Hernández, who is 58 years old, was traveling to Havana ahead of a peaceful protest planned for the following day, accompanied by sociologist Jenny Pantoja, when they were apprehended (14yMedio). Both were taken into custody at a police station in Matanzas. According to Dr. López Hernández’s account in a statement shared on Youtube via the CubaXCuba channel, she was forcefully arrested without a warrant, violently assaulted by police officers, resulting in injuries, and subsequently charged with assault. The police allege she committed assault when she tore loose the shoulder pad of one of the officer’s uniforms as she was dragged to the patrol car. This is not Dr. López Hernández’s first arrest for civil disobedience:
April 2023: She was arrested without any prior notice, warrant, or legal basis and was held in custody for several hours after peacefully protesting against the detention of writer Jorge Fernández Era. At the time of her arrest, Dr. López Hernández was holding a hand-drawn sign calling for authorities in Havana to release writer Jorge Fernández Era. Following her release, she announced on Facebook that she would continue her silent protests in the park on the 18th of each month.
June 2023: She was detained when she was planning to hold a peaceful protest against the travel ban against her imposed by the government, but the authorities preempted her action and sent her to house arrest.
November 2023: She was tried for the crime of “disobedience” for refusing to pay a fine after conducting a peaceful, individual protest in a public space. Under article 189.3 of Cuba’s Penal Code of 2022, “Anyone who repeatedly disobeys or fails to comply with measures legally imposed by competent authorities” may be charged with disobedience. Dr. López Hernández appealed the decision and vowed not to pay any fine associated with her sentence and to continue her monthly protests.
As a member of the Academy of Cuban History and co-director of CubaXCuba, a civic think tank, she is regularly consulted by the media for independent perspectives on Cuba. Until recently, she worked with the Cuban independent media platform La Joven Cuba, and in 2022, she was featured in a widely viewed Deutsche Welle documentary.
Cuba Proposes New Immigration Law: Last week, Cuba’s National Assembly proposed new immigration laws that aim to update the regulations for Cubans living abroad but stop short of fully addressing the rights related to property ownership (the Miami Herald). The new draft titled “Proyecto Ley de Migración” categorizes those abroad into three groups: “resident abroad,” “emigres,” and “business” or “investor” status. Permanent residents on the island retain full citizenship rights, but the draft lacks clarity on the rights for Cubans abroad. Significantly, the draft eliminates the previous two-year limit for Cubans to stay abroad without losing their property and other rights and replaces it with a more stringent “effective residence” requirement, which necessitates spending a significant amount of time in Cuba or demonstrating substantial ties to the country. This new criterion casts doubt on property ownership for those abroad, as current laws only allow permanent residents to own homes and businesses. Furthermore, the new law does not address how "emigre" status can be altered, except for a mention of a potential shift to "resident abroad" status. Government officials discussing the draft on state television did not answer direct questions about economic rights, indicating that other laws would define these rights. The final vote on this law is expected in July, with a 180-day period for Cubans abroad to comply with the new rules or be classified as "resident abroad." Critics argue that the removal of the 24-month rule does not signify a significant shift in policy, and further details are needed to understand the implications for Cubans living abroad fully.
Cuba Faces Challenges in Meeting 2024 Tourism Targets Despite Early Surge: As of May 2024, Cuba received 1.1 million tourists, a 102.7 percent increase from the same period in 2023, but still far from its annual target of 3.2 million visitors (Swissinfo). To meet this goal, Cuba needs an average of 289,302 monthly tourists, a figure that has yet to reach even during high-traffic seasons. The primary sources of tourists to Cuba are Canada, the US, Russia, and England, with Spain dropping to ninth place. The decline in European tourists follows the U.S. removal of the ESTA quick visa option for EU citizens who had visited Cuba as a result of the island’s inclusion on the State Sponsors of Terrorism (SSOT) list.
Read more about Cuba’s inclusion on the SSOT list here
Cuba Faces Rising Crime Concerns: Cuba Faces Rising Crime Concerns: Cuba is grappling with increasing concerns about violent crime amid the country’s worst economic crisis (El País). What was once deemed the safest country in the Western Hemisphere has allegedly been riddled with frequent incidents of robberies, murders, and street fights, according to reports from independent media. A 2022 poll conducted by independent public opinion research and market studies organization Cubadata revealed that a majority of respondents feared becoming victims of violent crimes. Despite Cuba's President, Miguel Díaz Canel's claims of safety and low crime rates, the public’s sense of insecurity continues to grow. This is further exacerbated by independent reports of a significant increase in femicides, with 89 cases in 2023, nearly triple the previous year’s numbers. Critics argue that the government’s response has been inadequate, failing to pass comprehensive gender violence legislation. Consequently, Cuban citizens increasingly turn to social media to report crimes and organize independently, highlighting the lack of effective state-run mechanisms to address these issues.
Cuba’s Foreign Relations
Russian Warships Leave Cuba After Five Days: A fleet of Russian warships, including a nuclear-powered submarine, departed Havana after a five-day visit and military drills (BCC). The visit, monitored closely by the US, was not considered a threat. The Russian flotilla, which included advanced weaponry, marked the first significant Russian naval presence in the region in five years. Following their arrival, the US docked a submarine at Guantanamo Bay and tracked the Russian vessels with warships and sail drones as they traveled along Florida's coast. Canada also sent a patrol ship to Havana while Russian vessels were there; Canadian officials said the visit was meant to send a message of deterrence to Moscow. Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel visited the frigate, and locals waved Russian flags as the ships left. The fleet is expected to head to Venezuela for further exercises. The visit, amidst Russia's conflict in Ukraine, is seen as a symbolic show of support for Cuba and Venezuela and a provocative gesture by Moscow.
Canada Deploys Patrol Ship to Havana Amidst Russian Naval Visit: During the Russian Naval vessels' visit to Cuba last week, the Government of Canada deployed a patrol ship to Havana amidst criticism from opposition lawmakers, who questioned the timing coinciding with the presence of Russian naval vessels there (Reuters). The ship’s arrival aimed to send a message of deterrence to Moscow following the docking of a Russian nuclear submarine and frigate earlier in the week. Defense Minister Bill Blair emphasized that Canada was asserting its military capability and readiness to safeguard national interests. Both Canada and the United States closely monitored the Russian ships despite assurances from Cuba and Russia that their presence posed no regional threat.
Cuban Migration
U.S. ICE Director Plans Increased Repatriations to Cuba Amidst Migration Crisis: In recent developments concerning U.S. immigration policy, Patrick Lechleitner, acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has expressed intentions to increase repatriations to Cuba (the Miami Herald). This decision comes amidst an ongoing migration surge from Cuba, resulting in over 163,376 U.S. nationwide encounters with Cuban nationals in fiscal year 2024 alone. Lechleitner noted that deportation flights to Cuba were interrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed with an average of one flight per month over the past year. This resumption coincides with broader efforts to manage migration from Cuba, which is facing a severe economic crisis that has fueled emigration.
Interested in learning more about Cuban migration to the US? Check out CEDA’s updates on Cuban migration charts here!
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