Representatives of Cuba and the United States will discuss the migration issue in Washington on Thursday, the first meeting at the highest level between the two countries since President Joe Biden took office, the Cuban government announced on Tuesday April 19.
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"
Thursday, April 21, a new round of discussions on the migration issue will take place in Washington DC between the delegations of Cuba and the United States
," the Foreign Ministry said on Twitter.
Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio will head the island's delegation.
A State Department spokesman told AFP that Washington is in "
regular contact with Cuban officials on issues important to the United States government, such as human rights and migration
."
A “significant increase in the number of illegal migrants”
This meeting comes at a time when Cuba, hit by its worst economic crisis in 30 years, is experiencing a major migration exodus.
According to US authorities, between October 2021 and March 2022, more than 78,000 Cubans entered the United States illegally through the Mexican border, double the number of inhabitants who left the island in 1994, the previous wave of mass emigration. .
"
We have seen a significant increase in the number of illegal immigrants entering the United States, both by land and by sea
," the State Department spokesperson said, and "
Cubans currently represent the second largest group ( migrants) arriving at the southwestern border of the United States
.
Since Nicaragua, an ally of Havana, announced at the end of November the abolition of visas for Cubans, thousands of them have left there in the hope of then joining the United States.
Havana accuses Washington of putting pressure on Latin American governments to demand transit visas from Cubans stopping over at their airports, and of not respecting a migration agreement providing for the granting of 20,000 visas a year to Cubans. Cubans.
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In March, the United States Embassy in Havana announced the reopening of its consulate, closed since 2017 due to alleged health incidents affecting diplomats, and the "
gradual
" and "
limited
" resumption of the issuance of visas.
Since coming to power in 2021, Joe Biden, despite his campaign promises, has kept the 243 sanctions imposed by Donald Trump in place.
These have reinforced the embargo in force since 1962, contrary to Barack Obama's policy of relaxation.