On Wednesday, Cuba and the United States held their final semi-annual migration talks under the Biden administration. With Donald Trump set to return to the White House, his expected hardline policies on immigration cast doubt on future cooperation between the two countries.
Tensions in Cuba Amid Economic Crisis
Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío called the meeting in Havana “constructive” and “frank”. The U.S. delegation, led by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Eric Jacobstein, emphasized the importance of continued cooperation.
The discussions come as Cuba faces an economic crisis driving a significant rise in migration. U.S. authorities reported over 641,000 encounters with Cuban migrants between October 2022 and September 2024. Cuba expressed concerns about the mistreatment of migrants upon arrival in the U.S. and requested that the U.S. Consulate in Havana resume visa processing, which is currently handled through third-party countries like Guyana.
Historical Migration Issues
The U.S. has long extended special treatment to Cuban migrants through the Cuban Adjustment Act, allowing them to apply for permanent residency after a year. Cuba argues that this policy encourages irregular migration. The talks mark the fifth round since 2022, after a break caused by Trump‘s tougher stance on Cuba. Trump imposed over 200 sanctions, which, alongside the U.S. embargo, have worsened Cuba’s economic crisis.
Regarding potential mass deportations under a Trump administration, Fernández de Cossío called the idea “unrealistic”. He emphasized that existing migration agreements between the two countries make such deportations unlikely. Despite the political rhetoric, he noted that the focus of the talks remained on practical cooperation and adherence to previous agreements.
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