Excessive-level U.S. delegation visits Havana amid migration disaster By Reuters

By Dave Sherwood

HAVANA (Reuters) – A U.S. authorities delegation met Cuban officers in Havana on Wednesday to debate Washington’s issues about irregular migration from the island, marking the highest-level recognized U.S. go to because the historic rapprochement underneath former President Barack Obama.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Rena Bitter and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Providers Director Ur Jaddou held talks with Cuban Vice International Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio on the embassy in Havana, and detailed plans to renew “full immigrant visa processing” on Jan. 4. The strikes had been outlined in September.

“That is the highest-level, public go to of U.S. officers to Cuba throughout the Biden administration,” a State Division spokesperson mentioned of Wednesday’s journey to the Communist-ruled island.

It “exhibits the dedication and work of the administration to create safe, secure, and orderly avenues for migration,” the spokesperson added.

Migration talks between the 2 nations resumed in April after a protracted hiatus following “anomalous well being incidents” in Havana that affected quite a lot of workers on the U.S. and Canadian embassies, a phenomenon dubbed “Havana Syndrome.”

The gravity of the migration disaster, spurred by a devastating financial downturn in Cuba that has led to acute shortages of meals, gas and medication, have additionally compelled a restart of conversations between the 2 long-time rivals.

U.S. authorities detained 220,000 Cubans on the U.S.-Mexico border from Oct. 1, 2021-Sept. 30, 2022, in keeping with U.S. Customs and Border Safety information, shattering information set by prior immigration crises, together with the Mariel Boatlift in 1980.

The US desires Cuba to take again extra deportees from amongst these arriving on the border, Reuters reported in April.

The State Division didn’t instantly reply to a question on whether or not deportation was mentioned on Wednesday.

Cubans have additionally more and more been taking to the ocean, risking their lives in selfmade boats to cross the Straits of Florida. Since Oct. 1, the U.S. Coast Guard has intercepted 1,588 migrants trying the crossing.

Bitter mentioned on Twitter that she met de Cossio to debate “growth of consular operations in Cuba.”

Cuba’s overseas ministry mentioned de Cossio reiterated the significance of restoring visa processing on the embassy and Cuba’s readiness for any “obligatory steps” to help.