Category: Medical

U.S. Stands Ready to Help the Cuban People 

That was the title of an October 30 Press Statement by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio[1] that stated the following:

  • “In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s devastation of eastern Cuba, the Trump Administration stands with the brave Cuban people who continue to struggle to meet basic needs. As in neighboring Caribbean countries, the Department is issuing a Declaration of Humanitarian Need for Cuba and is prepared to provide immediate humanitarian assistance directly and via local partners who can most effectively deliver it to those in need.”
  • “U.S. law includes exemptions and authorizations relating to private donations of food, medicine, and other humanitarian goods to Cuba, as well as disaster response. We encourage those seeking to directly support the Cuban people to contact us if there are any issues. Questions can be sent to CubaHumanitarian@state.gov.”

The referenced Declaration of Humanitarian Need for Cuba was not located on the State Department’s website. Instead, there was a Fact Sheet entitled “Providing Private Donations of Humanitarian Assistance to the Cuban People After Huricane Melissa,” [2] which stated the following:

  • “Members of the public often ask whether and how they can provide humanitarian support for the Cuban people.  While the embargo remains in place, the U.S. government prioritizes support for the Cuban people, and U.S. law and regulations include exemptions and authorizations relating to exports of food, medicine, and other humanitarian goods to Cuba, as well as disaster response.  In cases where these require an export license, the U.S. government can expedite review of such license applications to facilitate the timely export of humanitarian goods, including medical supplies, to Cuba.  Through the Departments of Commerce and the Treasury, there are many options available for expediting the export of humanitarian goods to Cuba.  We actively encourage those seeking to support the Cuban people to use these options and contact us if there are issues. Specific questions not answered below can be sent to CubaHumanitarian@state.gov, which will receive a prompt reply.”
  • “S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), General Licenses (GLs) and Specific Licensing”
  • “OFAC maintains several general license authorizations designed to support the wellbeing of the Cuban people.  The following GLs are related to humanitarian travel, trade, and assistance with Cuba pursuant to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR), as outlined in OFAC’s Fact Sheet: Provision of Humanitarian Assistance and Trade to Combat COVID 19 .”
  • “§ 515.206(b) of the CACR stipulates that the prohibitions in the CACR do not apply to transactions incident to the donation of food to nongovernmental organizations or individuals in Cuba.”
  • “§ 515.533 of the CACR authorizes all transactions ordinarily incident to the export from the United States, or the reexport from a third country, to Cuba of items licensed or otherwise authorized by the Department of Commerce (Commerce) subject to certain conditions.”
  • “515.572(a) of the CACR authorizes persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction to provide carrier services by vessel or aircraft to, from, or within Cuba, in connection with authorized travel, without the need for a specific license from OFAC. Persons providing carrier services for authorized travelers going from the United States to Cuba may transport cargo and baggage accompanying an authorized traveler provided that the export of the cargo and baggage is authorized by Commerce, and other cargo or unaccompanied baggage whose export to Cuba is authorized by Commerce. Note: (1) the export or reexport of certain vessels or aircraft providing carrier services under § 515.572(a)(2) requires separate authorization from Commerce, and (2) the Department of Transportation currently limits passengers and cargo air services to and from Cuba.”
  • “§ 515.574 of the CACR authorizes, subject to conditions, travel-related transactions and other transactions that are intended to provide support for the Cuban people, provided the activities are of recognized human rights organizations; independent organizations designed to promote a rapid, peaceful transition to democracy; or individuals and NGOs that promote independent activity intended to strengthen civil society in Cuba.”
  • “§ 515.575 of the CACR authorizes, subject to conditions, transactions, including travel-related transactions, that are related to humanitarian projects in or related to Cuba that are designed to directly benefit the Cuban people. These authorized humanitarian projects include: medical and health-related projects; construction projects intended to benefit legitimately independent civil society groups; disaster preparedness, relief, and response; historical preservation; environmental projects; projects involving formal or non-formal educational training, within Cuba or off-island, on various topics.”
  • “§ 515.591 of the CACR authorizes persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction to provide Cuba or Cuban nationals (including the Cuban government and state-owned entities) with services related to developing, repairing, maintaining, and enhancing Cuban infrastructure that directly benefit the Cuban people, consistent with the export or reexport licensing policy of Commerce. “Infrastructure” in this case means systems and assets used to provide the Cuban people with goods and services produced or provided by the public transportation, water management, waste management, non-nuclear electricity generation, and electricity distribution sectors, as well as hospitals, public housing, and primary and secondary schools.”
  • “Specific Licensing: For most transactions not otherwise exempt or authorized by OFAC general licenses, OFAC considers specific license requests on a case-by-case basis and prioritizes review of license applications, compliance questions, and other requests related to humanitarian support for the Cuban people.  For additional information on OFAC’s licensing process, see the guidance at: OFAC Licensing Process.”
  • “If you have additional questions regarding the scope of the Cuba sanctions requirements, or the applicability or scope of any humanitarian-related authorizations, please contact OFAC’s Sanctions Compliance and Evaluation Division at (800) 540-6322 or (202) 622-2490, or by email at OFAC_Feedback@treasury.gov.”
  • “U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Licenses “
  • “The export and reexport to Cuba of items subject to the Export Administration Regulations(EAR) generally requires a BIS license. While there is a general policy of denial for most exports and reexports to Cuba of  items subject to the EAR, the EAR states which categories of exports and reexports may generally be approved or reviewed on a case-by-case basis.  In addition, certain types of license exceptions exist for different categories of transactions.  If the exporter determines the export or reexport transaction meets the criteria of the license exception, the exporter may choose to use the license exception and not apply for a license.”]
  • “There is a general policy of approval for the following categories of exports, subject to certain conditions:
  • “Medicines and medical devices, whether sold or donated.”
  • ‘Telecommunications items that would improve communications to, from, and among the Cuban people.’
  • ‘Items necessary to ensure the safety of civil aviation and the safe operation of commercial aircraft engaged in international air transportation.’
  • “Items necessary for the environmental protection of U.S. and international air quality, waters or coastlines, including items related to renewable energy or energy efficiency.”

“There is a case-by-case review policy for the following categories of items:

  • “Items to meet the needs of the Cuban people, including items for export or reexport to state-owned enterprises, agencies, and other organizations of the Cuban government that provide goods and services for the use and benefit of the Cuban people.”
  • “If you have additional questions please contact BIS’s Foreign Policy Division at 202-482-4252 or by email at Policy@bis.doc.gov.”

“License Exception for Gift Parcels”

  • “Gift Parcels and Humanitarian Donations (GFT) (Section 740.12(a) of the EAR) authorizes the export and reexport of certain donated items by an individual (donor), or a forwarding service acting on behalf of the donor, to an eligible recipient (donee). Gift parcels may contain a variety of items, including food, most medicines, medical supplies and devices, certain consumer communications devices, and other items of a type normally exchanged as gifts between individuals, subject to restrictions described in Section 740.12(a) of the EAR.  Eligible recipients (donees) are individuals, other than certain Cuban Government or Cuban Communist Party officials, and charitable, educational, and religious organizations in Cuba that are not administered or controlled by the Cuban Government or the Cuban Communist Party. For example, hospitals or schools administered or controlled by the Cuban Government are not eligible recipients.”
  • “Donors may send one gift parcel per month per eligible recipient. The combined total domestic retail value of eligible items may not exceed $800 per gift parcel. However, the frequency and value limits do not apply to food donated in gift parcels. Items contained in gift parcels must also be in quantities normally given as gifts between individuals.”
  • “In addition, Section 740.12(b) of License Exception GFT authorizes the donation of eligible items to meet basic human needs provided the donors meet the eligible criteria and maintain a system of verification to ensure that the donated items are delivered to the intended recipients.”
  • “ For questions specific to Cuba, contact CubaHumanitarian@state.gov.”

======================

[1] U.S. Dep’t of State, Marco Rubio Press Statement:  U.S. Stands Ready to Help the Cuban People (Oct. 30, 2025).

[2] U.S. Dep’t of State, Providing Private Donations of Humanitarian Assistance to the Cuban People After Hurricane Melissa (Oct. 30, 2025).

History of Roman Catholic Church’s Support of Migrants and Refugees

As Robert Cardinal McElroy briefly mentioned in his September 28th homily, the Roman Catholic Church for the last 110 years has held annual masses in support of immigrants and refugees. [1] `Here is more information about that history.

International Catholic Migration Commission[2]

This Commission holds an annual World Day of Migrants & Refugees and over the year provides the following types of “assistance and protection to vulnerable people on the move and advocates for sustainable solutions for refugees and migrants:: humanitarian assistance & development; protection & prevention; resettlement & complementary pathways; deployment of experts; advocacy; civil society coordination; capacity building & research; and church networking.” It does so with offices in Geneva, Switzerland,; Brussells, Belgium; Washington, D.C.; and Athens, Greece that are supported by 132 national Catholic Bishops conferences and other Catholic-inspired institutions  around the world.”

On April 7, 2025, the Most Rev. Timothy P. Broglio, the President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, announced their “gut-wrenching decision . . . to end our work with the federal government to resettle and coordinate our work with the [U.S.] federal government to resettle refugees and coordinate support services on the government’s behalf for unaccompanied children entering the United States. . . . The bishops’ decisiion came after the federal government suspended our cooperative agreements to resettle refugees. . . . [and our seeing] Jesus in the stranger, the homeless, the destitute of the refugee, and sought to help them.”[3]

Broglio continued, “The Catholic Church will find new means to help those we have served in the past and will serve in the future. The bishops will also continue to advocate energetically for public policy reforms that provide orderly, secure immigration processes and ensure the safety of everyone in our communities. There is no change in our collective commitment to advocate on behalf of men, women and children suffering from the scourge of human trafficking. . . . [This change] offers every Catholic an opportunity to search our hearts for ways to help in the absence of government support. Local parishes, charities and other Catholic organizations have played, and continue to play, a pivotal role in welcoming and protecting the stranger who comes to us in need. Visible in every individual and family is the face of Jesus and the promise of his care, support and hope.”

“The Bible’s call to do what we can for the least among us remains the benchmark. Please join us in praying for God’s grace, that we might still find generous ways to respond to crises and bring hope where it is most needed.”

Pope Leo’s Message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2025[4]

On October 4-5, 2025,  Pope Leo issued the following message for this year’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees:

“The 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which my predecessor chose to coincide with the Jubilees of Migrants and of the Missions, offers us an opportunity to reflect on the connections between hope, migration and mission.”

“The current global context is sadly marked by wars, violence, injustice and extreme weather events, which force millions of people to leave their homelands in search of refuge elsewhere. The widespread tendency to look after the interests of limited communities poses a serious threat to the sharing of responsibility, multilateral cooperation, the pursuit of the common good and global solidarity for the benefit of our entire human family. The prospect of a renewed arms race and the development of new armaments, including nuclear weapons, the lack of consideration for the harmful effects of the ongoing climate crisis, and the impact of profound economic inequalities make the challenges of the present and the future increasingly demanding.”

“Faced with frightening scenarios and the possibility of global devastation, it is important that there be a growing desire in people’s hearts for a future of peace and of respect for the dignity of all. Such a future is essential to God’s plan for humanity and the rest of creation. This is the messianic future anticipated by the prophets: “Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets… For there shall be a sowing of peace; the vine shall yield its fruit, the ground shall give its produce, and the skies shall give their dew” (Zech 8:4-5, 12). This future has already begun, since it was inaugurated by Jesus Christ (cf. Mk 1:15; Lk 17:21), and we believe and hope in its full realization, for the Lord is always faithful to his promises.”

“The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: “The virtue of hope responds to the aspiration to happiness which God has placed in the heart of every man and woman; it takes up the hopes that inspire human activities” (N. 1818). What is more, the search for happiness, and the prospect of finding it beyond one’s place of origin, is certainly one of the main motivations for the movement of people today.”

“This link between migration and hope is clearly evident in many contemporary experiences of migration. Many migrants, refugees and displaced persons are privileged witnesses of hope. Indeed, they demonstrate this daily through their resilience and trust in God, as they face adversity while seeking a future in which they glimpse that integral human development and happiness are possible. Moreover, we can see the itinerant experience of the people of Israel repeated in their own lives: “O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel. Rain in abundance, O God, you showered abroad; you restored your heritage when it languished; your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy” (Ps 68:7-10).”

“In a world darkened by war and injustice, even when all seems lost, migrants and refugees stand as messengers of hope. Their courage and tenacity bear heroic testimony to a faith that sees beyond what our eyes can see and gives them the strength to defy death on the various contemporary migration routes. Here too we can find a clear analogy with the experience of the people of Israel wandering in the desert, who faced every danger while trusting in the Lord’s protection: “he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day, or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday” (Ps 91:3-6).”

“Migrants and refugees remind the Church of her pilgrim dimension, perpetually journeying towards her final homeland, sustained by a hope that is a theological virtue. Each time the Church gives in to the temptation of “sedentarization” and ceases to be a civitas peregrine, God’s people journeying towards the heavenly homeland (cf. Augustine, De Civitate Dei, Books XIV-XVI), she ceases to be “in the world” and becomes “of the world” (cf. Jn 15:19). This temptation was already present in the early Christian communities, so much so that the Apostle Paul had to remind the Church of Philippi that “our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself” (Phil 3:20-21).”

“In a special way, Catholic migrants and refugees can become missionaries of hope in the countries that welcome them, forging new paths of faith where the message of Jesus Christ has not yet arrived or initiating interreligious dialogue based on everyday life and the search for common values. With their spiritual enthusiasm and vitality, they can help revitalize ecclesial communities that have become rigid and weighed down, where spiritual desertification is advancing at an alarming rate. Their presence, then, should be recognized and appreciated as a true divine blessing, an opportunity to open oneself to the grace of God, who gives new energy and hope to his Church: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it” (Heb 13:2)”

“The first element of evangelization, as Saint Paul VI emphasized, is that of witness: “All Christians are called to this witness, and in this way they can be real evangelizers. We are thinking especially of the responsibility incumbent on migrants in the country that receives them” (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 21). This is a true missio migrantium, a mission carried out by migrants, for which adequate preparation and ongoing support must be ensured through effective inter-ecclesial cooperation.”

“At the same time, the communities that welcome them can also be a living witness to hope, one that is understood as the promise of a present and a future where the dignity of all as children of God is recognized. In this way, migrants and refugees are recognized as brothers and sisters, part of a family in which they can express their talents and participate fully in community life.”

“On this Jubilee, when the Church prays for all migrants and refugees, I wish to entrust all those who are on the journey, as well as those who are working to accompany them, to the maternal protection of the Virgin Mary, comfort of migrants, so that she may keep hope alive in their hearts and sustain them in their commitment to building a world that increasingly resembles the Kingdom of God, the true homeland that awaits us at the end of our journey.”

Conclusion

As a Christian of  the Presbyterian persuasion, I give thanks for the Roman Catholics’ sustained support of refugees and migrants over many years.

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[1] Homily Against Trump Immigration Policies by Roman Catholic Cardinal Robert McElroy, dwkcommentaries.com (9/29/25).

[2] International Catholic Migration Commission, 

[3] Broglio, Why Catholic bishops are ending our refugee work with the federal government, Wash. Post (4/7/25)

[4] Message of Pope Leo XIV for the 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2025.(7/25/25).

 

U.N. Meeting About Revising the Global Refugee and Asylum System

“On September 25, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau headlined an event on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly titled “The Global Refugee and Asylum System: What Went Wrong and How to Fix It.” He was joined by a panel of high-level representatives from Panama, Liberia, Bangladesh, and Kosovo. They were also joined by representatives from other nations, international organizations, and advocacy groups. During the event, sovereign states shared their perspectives on the problems with the outdated and broken international refugee and asylum regime —and more importantly, possible solutions to those issues.”[1]

According to the U.S. State Department, “The event kickstarted a long-overdue international discussion on much-needed reforms to the system to stop its abuse and ensure that sovereignty and democratic accountability receive their rightful due. The Trump Administration will not allow the U.S. asylum system to be used as a backdoor method to circumvent immigration law. We are firmly committed to defending America’s borders and defending the interests of the American people.”

Here are Deputy Secretary Landau‘s prepared remarks at the meeting:[2]

“Migration, I think, is going to be one of the defining topics of the 21st century, whether we like it or not. It was, in some ways, a defining topic of the 20th century as well. There were massive population shifts in the 20th century. And the United Nations actually played a role in that, usually in creating international mechanisms to assist migratory flows, to help nations create asylum and refugee systems.”

“I mean, let’s not forget this organization arose from the ashes of World War II, and one of the lessons of World War II is that countries felt that they had dropped the ball in not giving protection to people who were stranded in Nazi Germany and in the Axis powers, and who were persecuted. So many countries around the world – including my own country, the United States – established a legal framework in the late 1940s, around the same time this organization was created, to create a refugee or an asylum program under our domestic law.”

“We also, of course, have a completely separate and quite complicated, reticulated system of immigration laws. So, I think one of the points that I wanted to start with is that we’re talking really about two distinct issues that often get conflated. One is immigration. Each sovereign country can set its own procedures for immigration, and immigration – immigrants can be welcomed for many reasons – economic, you might want to improve a technology sector, you might need labor in your country. That really varies country to country.”

“Again, asylum status was always meant to be a much smaller subset of that. And I can speak to our domestic law – again, every country was going to have its own domestic laws. And I should say, by the way, we haven’t coordinated this on this panel, so we might have different views on this. And so I am speaking here for the United States, for myself. And I think one of the great things here is that we have a chance to have a conversation and talk about these things.”

“But in our law, in order to qualify for refugee status or asylum status, you need to have a well-founded fear of persecution on the basis of certain enumerated statutory characteristics – in a sense, responded to the problem we saw in World War II – the basis of religion, race, political opinion. But it was not generally meant to be something to supplant the migration laws, right? Economic privation is not a basis for asylum.”

“That might be a basis for migration, but this was meant to be, in a sense, a separate asterisk to the asylum laws, that basically when there are some people who are really at such risk, imminent risk, of harm on the basis of these narrow, defined, protected categories, we will allow them into our country outside the scope of our migration laws, kind of as any port in a storm, right. If they were not allowed immediately to get out of their country, they face almost certain injury or death, right. And so we have those laws.”

“Again, that is a very noble concept, and I think the UN promoted international standards for refugees, has continued to do that. So, I think the UN has been instrumental in setting up these kinds of refugee or asylum systems all around the world, and in facilitating migration to some extent.”

“I think now in the year 2025 – we’re a quarter of the way through the 21st century – we take a step back and we see that there are massive migratory flows taking place, and a lot of times massive amounts of people are claiming asylum. In our system at least, when these claims get adjudicated, 90-plus percent of people are found not to be eligible for asylum. And we all know this kind of abuse is happening, frankly. And people who are economic migrants are coming in, in our country, saying that they are – that they should be given asylum. Our problem is when you have hundreds of thousands of people who arrive all at once and claim this, that really requires an individualized adjudication.”

“So now, we are in a sense saying, okay, well, please, you take a number and we will be back for your individualized interview in six years. And in the meantime, people can live in our country legally. They can start – they might get married. They can work. And so in a sense the migration – the asylum system has become a huge loophole in our migration laws. And we just have to be realistic about this, right? And I think the UN has a responsibility – just as it was instrumental, I think, in encouraging countries to adopt these kind of laws, I think we have to be realistic that these laws are now being abused. And we have to just acknowledge that.“

“I think the first step in dealing with any pathology is to acknowledge you have a problem. I think this is, again, not just a United States problem. We’re seeing this all over the world. That is not to say, frankly, that there are not real asylum seekers. But I think, frankly, if you have hundreds of thousands of fake asylum seekers, what happens to the real asylum seekers? They get lost in the midst of a massive bureaucratic process.”

“So, I think it behooves those who really are concerned about the plight of the real asylum seekers in the world to have an international order that accepts the fact that we should discourage people from abusing this process. And saying that you are – saying that the process is susceptible to abuse is not being xenophobic, it is not being a mean or bad person. It is just saying this is not the purpose for which this limited exception was created. And I think – I hope very much, the United States hopes, that this is part of the international agenda or else basically the asylum system will serve as a mechanism to make mass illegal migration legal. And that won’t last for long. What you’re going to see is you’re going to see countries saying, okay, we’re not going to have an asylum system at all.”

“So, for those of us who believe that asylum can play, as it was initially intended, a valuable role, I think this should be a top international priority to recognize the need to revisit the asylum system in the 21st century.”

“I think in our view there are five critical principles that the United States would like to put on the table that we see as kind of the basis of, hopefully, an emerging consensus.”

“First, that every nation ultimately has the right to control its own borders. That’s what it means to be a sovereign nation, to say: We get to decide who comes in and under what circumstances and for how long they get to come in. That is an – the quintessential element of sovereignty.”

“Second, there is no right to immigrate or to receive asylum or refugee status in the country of an individual’s choice. I mean, sometimes we see people who leave one country and traverse maybe a dozen countries to get to another country, right? And that defies the image of any port, any safe harbor in a storm, right? I mean, that makes it look like it’s no longer trying to avoid imminent injury or death, it makes it look like it’s just a substitute for migration. Hey, I want to go to live in this country. And so again, I think that is not – the basis of asylum, again, is to give someone shelter from immediate injury or death on the basis of certain kinds of characteristics – not, again, to just facilitate mass migration.”

“Third, refugee status is temporary, not permanent. We should reject the presumption that recognition of being a refugee is just another form of migration. Again, if the idea is it’s any port in a storm, then when the storm is over the presumption should be, okay, we’ve given you the shelter in a storm, but now the understanding is you should go back to your country. Again, for us these are kind of common sense principles, and I think are valuable to prevent the people who are asylum seekers from being subject to abuse and, frankly, from abusing the system.”

“I was meeting the other day with an ambassador in Washington. We were talking about some of the abuse of the asylum system, and he was laughing. And he told me he was in an Uber the other day and there was a guy from his country there driving the Uber. He says, “What are you doing here?” And the guy says, “I have asylum here.” And this guy, meanwhile, had actually flown back to his country to visit his family, and this is a country from which he sought asylum. Frankly, I didn’t even know that was possible to return to the country from which you’re seeking asylum, go on a holiday, and then come back to the United States.”

“I mean, we just have to be realistic. Like, these things are happening. And especially I know there’s those of you in this room who are big believers in an asylum system. But if you want to have an asylum system, please do not feel that you need to defend the abuses of the system. Please try to find common ground among all of us on ways that the asylum system can actually fulfill the purpose for which it is meant to serve and does not become a fig leaf in a sense for just ordinary economic migration.”

“I will just wrap up now, but I think it’s important, again, to emphasize that ultimately sovereign states and not transnational bodies must be making the determination whether the conditions in a country of origin permit return. And finally, every country – and this is, I think, just a basic of international law – must agree to accept expeditiously the return of its nationals.”

“So in concluding, let me just say I read an article the other day that Greece enacted a new law – again, this is an issue all over the world; it’s not just in our country – that said asylum seekers whose claim is rejected in the judicial system of Greece, or whatever special asylum system they have, have to return within 14 days. And then I saw statements condemning that as illegal. I thought, well, what was the purpose of having an asylum hearing if the person loses and it says you’re not entitled to rejection? Of course the person should have to go home. I mean, if the person is allowed to stay in Greece even if their asylum – as an asylum seeker even if their asylum claim is rejected, then was the whole thing just a farce? I mean, we have to have certain understandings that, yes, you come because you are – presumably you have a well-founded fear of persecution on these grounds. You Explain what it is. There is a prompt adjudication. And then you abide by the results of that adjudication.”

“But really, I am very grateful to our co-panelists for being in this forum to discuss their perspectives on migration and asylum, which I think are going to vary among all of us. But really, I think as the beginning of a serious international conversation that I think we have to recognize that the asylum system around the world has been subject to abuse if in fact we want to save the asylum system itself.”

Reactions[3]

I am a retired attorney who specialized in corporate litigation (antitrust, securities fraud, breach of contract, for example) and who learned as a practicing lawyer about the U.S. and international law of asylum in order to proudly serve as a successful pro bono asylum attorney for clients from El Salvador, Colombia, Afghanistan, Somalia and Burma[4] and who is thankful for Minnesota organizations that assist such attorneys and clients (Advocates for Human Rights, Center for Victims of Torture, University of Minnesota Law School’s Human Rights Center and the  International Institute of Minnesota).

Deputy Secretary Landau makes the following valid points: asylum was not intended to supplant a country’s general immigration laws; economic privation is not a basis for asylum; an asylum applicant who before arriving in the U.S. goes through one or more countries that have asylum laws should under certain circumstances apply for asylum in one of those countries; when an asylum applicant voluntarily returns to his or her home country, that should be grounds for revocation of his or her refugee status in the U.S. or when the political circumstances in the home country of a U.S. asylum applicant significantly change, that applicant should be subject to a U.S. government application to terminate that status and return the applicant to his or her home country.

Landau, however, ignores the complexity of U.S. immigration law, including refugee and asylum law, and the right of human beings involved in such proceedings to have their cases heard by one of our immigration courts, which are overburdened by a lack of immigration judges, and then to appeal denials of refugee status to the relevant U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and potentially the U.S. Supreme Court. All of that takes time and resources, including the appointment of additional immigration court judges.

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[1]  U.S. State Dep’t, Deputy Secretary Landau Leads UNGA Event on Migration Reform (9/25/25); Deputy Secretary Landau hosts The Global Refugee & Asylum System; What Went Wrong and How to Fix It, dviddshub.net (9/25/25).(the DVD is 57:52 minutes long); Taylor, Trump administration calls for radical reform of world’s asylum system, Wash. Post (9/25/25).

[2] U.S. State Dep’t, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau at the Panel ”The Global Refugee and Asylum System: What Went Wrong and How to Fix It: Remarks (Sept. 25, 2025).

[3] Becoming a Pro Bono Asylum Lawyer, dwkcommentaries.com (05/24/11);

Becoming a Pro Bono Asylum Lawyer

 

List of Posts to dwkcommentaries—Topical: LAW (Refugee & Asylum);

My Pilgrimage to El Salvador, April 1989

Advocates for Human Rights; Center for Victims of Torture,; Human Rights Center, University of Minnesota Law School; International Institute of Minnesota.

 

 

 

Cuba Population: 9,740,000 

Cuba’s National Office of Statistics and Information has reported that the island’s population at the end of 2024 was 9,740,000.

The number of births during the year was 71,000,  “the lowest figure in recent decades and confirming that women of childbearing age in Cuba are postponing or choosing not to have children.”

“The serious crisis Cuba is experiencing, with no short- or medium-term solution in sight, is discouraging young people from starting families on the island. For the vast majority, emigration is their life plan.”

“According to an independent demographic study by Cuban economist and demographer Juan Carlos Albizu-Campos, Cuba had only 8,025,624 inhabitants at the end of 2024, following a cumulative decline of 24% in just four years.”

=================

There are 9,740,000 Cubans living on the island, says the Government, Diario de Cuba (May 7, 2025).

 

 

Two Former MPD Officers Have Completed Their Criminal Imprisonment for Involvement in George Floyd Killing  

Two of the four Minneapolis Police Department officers who were convicted for involvement in the 2020 murder of George Floyd have completed their criminal imprisonment for same.[1]

On January 15, 2026, J. Alexander Kueng was released from a low-security federal prison in Lisbon, Ohio after completing his sentence and now is going on supervised release until March 2026.

Thomas Lane was released from prison last August  followed by another year of supervised release.

Tou Thao remains in prison, but is scheduled to be released this November.

The leader of this group of MPD officers, Derek Chauvin, remains in prison while he is seeking a new trial, which will be discussed in a future post.

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[1] Walsh & Norfleet, One of ex-police officers convicted for George Floyd’s murder is released from prison, StarTribune (Jan.15, 2025).;Ex-Minneapolis officer thomas Lane, convicted in George Floyd’s killing, is released from prison, StarTribune (Aug. 20, 2024).

Federal Court Allows Chauvin’s Expert Examination of George Floyd’s Heart Tissue

Derek Chauvin now is in federal prison for joint service of Minnesota state and federal court convictions for the murder of George Floyd. The state court conviction was based on a jury guilty verdict after trial while the federal conviction was based on Chauvin’s guilty plea. For both of those cases, Chauvin’s attorney was Eric Nelson, but Chauvin’s current attempt to invalidate those convictions is based upon the claim by his new lawyer, Robert Meyers, an assistant federal defender.

The last time this blog examined this case,  it discussed (1) the November 13, 2023 Chauvin motion (without legal counsel) to vacate his conviction and sentencing based upon the opinion of a pathologist (Dr. William Schaetzel) who had never examined the Floyd corpse, but believed that Floyd did not die from asphyxia from Chauvin’s actions, but from complications of a rare tumor (paraganglioma) that can cause a fatal surge of adrenaline; (2) the January 12, 2024, federal prosecution’s opposition to that motion: (3) the July 31, 2024, Chauvin Reply Brief (with counsel); and (4) the August 14, 2024, federal Government’s Surreply. Based upon review of these papers, this blog thought the Chauvin motion would be denied.[1]

That denial, however, did not happen, and on December 13, 2024, Chauvin (with counsel) filed a motion for the following discovery:

  • “Any and all hitology slides of Floyd’s heart, tissue samples of Floyd’s heart, tissue blocks containing heart tissue from Floyd, recut sections of all autopsy tissue histology slides relating to Floyd’s heart, related to the criminal case against Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd possessed by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office (HCMEO), and any entity that the HCMEO contracted with that has these materials.”
  • “Photos taken of George Floyd’s heart.”
  • “Any and all vitreous fluid/aqueous humor, postmortem blood antemortem blood, and urine contracted with that has these materials, HHC (autopsy report notes that antemortem blood was taken at HHC), and NMS Labs (NMS Labs conducted the toxicology testing and produced the toxicology report, and thus they may still have samples of the blood and urine that they tested (DE 544-1 at 25-26)). Chauvin requests quantities of these fluids sufficient to test the concentration of fractionated catecholamines and metanephrine levels present.”[2]

Three days later (December 16, 2024), U.S. District Court Judge Magnuson granted this Chauvin motion. That Order stated, “Given the significant nature of the criminal case that Mr. Chauvin was convicted of, and given that the discovery that Mr. Chauvin seeks could support Dr. Schaetzel’s opinion of how Mr. Floyd died, the Court finds that there is good cause to allow to take the discovery he seeks. That court order also provided that Chauvin’s team may take discovery of any histology slides of Floyd’s heart, tissue samples of his heart, tissue blocks containing heart tissue from Floyd and recut sections of all autopsy tissue slides relating to his heart. Chauvin’s lawyers are also allowed to inspect and make copies of any photographs taken of Floyd’s heart and they can take quantities of certain fluids for testing. That court order also provided that Chauvin’s team may take discovery of any histology slides of Floyd’s heart, tissue samples of his heart, tissue blocks containing heart tissue from Floyd and recut sections of all autopsy tissue slides relating to his heart. Chauvin’s lawyers are also allowed to inspect and make copies of any photographs taken of Floyd’s heart and they can take quantities of certain fluids for testing. Accordingly, the court GRANTS Mr. Chauvin’s Motion.”[3]

The very next day (December 17), the Government filed its Motion To Reconsider Defendant’s Motion for Discovery. It asserted that the “claims of ineffective assistance of counsel fail on their merits . . . and that Defendant is not entitled to relief.” Therefore, the Court should reconsider and deny Chauvin’s motion. But if the court denies that Government’s request for reconsideration, the Court should grant reciprocal discovery by the Government.”[4]

Two days later (December 19), the District Court issued another Order, stating that it “is not persuaded by the Government’s arguments . . .and “the Order granting Defendant’s discovery motion will stand.” But the Court also stated that it “expects the parties to cooperate in the discovery process, allowing the Government reasonable access to any lab reports, test results, and expert disclosures.” That court order also provided that Chauvin’s team may take discovery of any histology slides of Floyd’s heart, tissue samples of his heart, tissue blocks containing heart tissue from Floyd and recut sections of all autopsy tissue slides relating to his heart. Chauvin’s lawyers are also allowed to inspect and make copies of any photographs taken of Floyd’s heart and they can take quantities of certain fluids for test. [5]

Reactions

This is a shocking development in this historic police misconduct case in Minneapolis that could obviously affect the other four policemen convicted of aiding and abetting Chauvin in the Floyd case if the tests now ordered establish the theory advanced by Dr. William Schaetzel unless there is law that refuses to excuse policemen for such conduct if the victim has unusual medical conditions.

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[1] Derek Chauvin’s Motions for New Trial for Killing of George Floyd, dwkcommentaries.com (Sept. 6, 2024).

[2] Defendant’s Motion for Discovery, U.S. v. Chauvin, U.S. Dist. Ct., D. Minn. (Dec.13, 2024).

[3] Order, U.S. v. Chauvin U.S. Dist. Ct., D. Minn. (Dec.16, 2024).

[4] Government’s Motion To Reconsider Defendant’s Motion for Discovery, U.S. v. Chauvin, U.S. Dist. Ct.. D. Minn. (Dec. 17, 2024)

[5] Order, U.S. v. Chauvin, U.S. Dist. Ct., D. Minn. (Dec. 17, 2024); Montemayor, Derek Chauvin allowed to examine George Floyd’s heart tissue in challenge to federal conviction, StarTribune (Dec. 16, 2024); Moser, Motion allows George Floyd’s heart tissue to be examined in Derek Chauvin’s latest challenge to federal conviction, CBS News (Dec. 16, 2024): Karnowski, Judge allows testing of tissue from George Floyd as officer convicted of killing him seeks new trial, AP News.com (Dec. 17, 2024).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Congressmen Ask President Biden To Provide Sanctions Relief and Other Aid to Cuba   

On November 15, a group of 18 U.S. Congressmen sent a letter to President Biden “with a deep sense of urgency to request immediate action to stabilize Cuba’s energy infrastructure and provide critical humanitarian assistance. The Cuban people are currently facing widespread blackouts and an escalating energy crisis, exacerbated by the impact of Hurricane Rafael. The situation is not only causing immense suffering for the Cuban people but also poses serious risks to U.S. national security interests. If left unaddressed, the crisis will almost certainly fuel increased migration, strain U.S. border management systems, and fully destabilize the already-strained Caribbean region.”[1]

“Since 2022, over 850,000 Cubans have sought refuge in the United States—the largest exodus in the island’s history. The ongoing collapse of essential services, particularly electricity, has further exacerbated this exodus. The latest energy crisis threatens to trigger another unprecedented wave of migration, with hundreds of thousands more Cubans likely to seek entry to the U.S.”

Therefore, their letter “respectfully urge your administration to quickly take the following actions to address this urgent crisis and safeguard U.S. interests:”

  1. “Remove the State Sponsor of Terror Designation “

“We strongly recommend removing Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism (SSOT) list. This will reduce barriers to oil shipments and clarify that carriers and insurers can operate legally in Cuba, facilitating access to energy and economic relief for the Cuban people.”

  1. “Expedite Emergency Humanitarian and Technical Assistance to the Cuban People”

“The U.S. government should immediately provide humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, while deploying technical assistance and equipment to stabilize Cuba’s electrical grid. This aid should be delivered to the Cuban people without delay, and in coordination with international partners such as the European Union, FAO, WFP, and PAHO to maximize its impact.

  1. “Issue Safe Harbor Letters to Address Overcompliance with Sanctions”

“One key barrier to increased non-government assistance to Cuba is the fear that private businesses and non-profit organizations have of running afoul of U.S. sanctions, whether or not a General License is available from Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). We strongly urge the provision of OFAC safe harbor letters to ensure that

humanitarian aid efforts to Cuba, including the provision of food, medicine, and technical assistance, fully comply with U.S. sanctions regulations and are protected from enforcement actions.”

  1. “Suspend Sanctions Impeding Aid”

“We urge you to suspend sanctions that hinder the flow of humanitarian assistance, including restoring the EAR license exception to allow donations to Cuban health and humanitarian relief entities. These changes will enable quicker assistance from U.S. humanitarian organizations, religious groups, and private citizens to the Cuban people.”

  1. “Facilitate Energy Infrastructure Repair and Modernization”

“The U.S. should fast-track the export of critical equipment needed to repair and upgrade Cuba’s energy grid. In addition, lifting Cuba-specific restrictions on oil and LPG exports will help prevent a total grid collapse.”

“Regardless of the Cuban government’s stance, it is imperative that the U.S. government demonstrates a willingness to aid the Cuban people directly. The Cuban government’s frequent attempts to blame the U.S. for the island’s problems should not deter us from offering the assistance necessary to alleviate suffering of the Cuban people and prevent further regional destabilization.”

“The escalating energy crisis in Cuba presents not just a humanitarian concern but a serious national security challenge for the U.S. If left unaddressed, the situation risks further destabilizing the Caribbean region, increasing migration flows, and straining U.S. border management systems, while strengthening the hand of malign actors in the Western Hemisphere. Acting swiftly to provide humanitarian and technical support will not only alleviate immediate suffering but also open avenues for broader diplomatic engagement. This engagement can extend to critical issues such as the release of political prisoners, human rights, and improved governance, building a foundation for more constructive dialogue between the two countries.”

“We understand that absent action from Congress, executive actions on Cuba are subject to reversal. That should not deter us from acting to avert further suffering and damage to United States interests. Even temporary relief can save lives and permit the Cuban people a chance to insulate themselves and their families from further vulnerability. We urge your administration to act swiftly to implement these measures and mitigate the growing crisis in Cuba while advancing U.S. interests in the region.”

The Congressmen who signed this letter were Barbara Lee, James McGovern, Gregory Meeks, Joaquin Castro, Pramila Jayapal, Ilhan Omar, Greg Casar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jesus “Chuy”” Garcia, Delia C. Ramirez, Nydia M. Velazquez, Raul M. Grijalva, Zoe Lofgren, Mark Pocan, Steve Cohen, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Jonathan L. Jackson and Jan Schakowsky.

Comments

Thanks to these Congressmen for making these suggestions to President Biden in the last weeks of his Administration. They are measure that are needed by Cuba and by the U.S., and President Biden should implement them as soon as possible. He also should ask Congress to terminate the U.S. embargo of Cuba, but that faces the obstacle of Republican (slim) control of the House of Representatives.

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[1] Press Release, Representatives Lee, McGovern, Meeks, and Castro Lead Congressional Letter to President Biden Urging Sanctions Relief for Cuba Amid Humanitarian Crisis, (Nov. 10, 2024); Press Release, US Congressmen want Biden to facilitate the repair of Cuba’s ‘energy infrastructure,’ Diario de Cuba (Nov. 20, 2024); Letter, Congressmen Barbara Lee, James McGovern, Gregroy Meeks, Joquin Castro, Pramila Jaypal, Ilhan Omar, Greg Casas, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jesus “Clay” Garcia, Delia C. Ramirez, Nydia M. Velazquez, Raul M. Grijalva, Zoe Lofgren, Mark Pocan, Steve Cohen, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Jonathan L. Jackson and Jan Schakowsky to President Biden (Nov. 15, 2024); U.S. Congressmen ask Biden to remove Cuba from terrorist list, Granma (Nov. 19, 2024).

 

 

State of Minnesota Has Declining Number of Births 

In 2023 the State of Minnesota had 61,715 children born in the state. This was a decline from the peak of 73,735 births in 2007. “The pattern of declining births is consistent across racial and ethnic groups, and it’s visible everywhere from the state’s urban core to its rural corners.”[1]

“More women [in the state] are also choosing not to get pregnant, at least for now, because they are anxious about costs, access to child care, and the political and environmental futures in which they would raise children, said Kathrine Simon, an Allina Health midwife. Moreover, “births among Minnesotans (women] 15 to 19 have fallen 33% since 2016 — a hard-won outcome following public health campaigns to convince teens that unplanned pregnancies can hurt their futures. But births also are declining among women 20 to 34, despite a generational uptick in young adults in their childbearing years.”

Over the next decade, this “decline will accelerate . . . when millennials exit that age range and the smaller Generation Z enters it, said Susan Brower, Minnesota’s state demographer. “That’s going to have kind of echo effects into the future.”

This decline “has already had an impact, forcing some small hospitals to close their delivery units, and will eventually hit Minnesota in its pocketbook,” Brower said.

“Over time, fewer children will result in fewer workers — from doctors to farmers to bankers to builders. That will mean fewer people making Target runs, buying Vikings tickets and paying taxes to keep up Minnesota’s infrastructure. . . . Eventually, and it’s already happening, we won’t be able to find people to do some of these essential services … to keep our economy and our society going.”

“Eventually, and it’s already happening, we won’t be able to find people to do some of these essential services … to keep our economy and our society going.”

“International immigration has sustained growth in Minnesota’s population and employment base for decades. The Hmong population that started with refugees fleeing Southeast Asia in the late 20th century has tripled in Minnesota since 2000. If not for immigrants who started new families in Minnesota, the state’s decline in births would be sharper, Brower said.”

Conclusion

This blog already has commented on the aging and declining population in the U.S. and many other countries in the world and the many problems that creates for those countries. Encouraging the immigration of people from other countries, including medical doctors and other medical personnel, is one way to counter these negative effects. [2]

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[1] Olson, Reversing Minnesota’s declining  birthrate is costly—and controversial, StarTribune (Nov. 9, 2024).

[2] E.g., Support for Immigration from Nicholas Eberstadt and George Will, dwkcommentaries.com. (Oct.23, 2024).

Minnesota Experiencing Increasing Shortages of Physicians and Nurses

This blog previously noted that the U.S. existing population of physicians is aging and reaching retirement and therefore needing replacement and hence the need to recruit  physicians licensed in other countries.[1]

Not surprisingly the State of Minnesota is experiencing the same problem for physicians and nurses.[2]

“Aging is taking its toll on the [State’s] doctor ranks, causing the vacancy rate for physician jobs to increase from nearly 12% last year to almost 15%. A quarter of the physician workforce will be 65 or older in the next decade, but many doctors aren’t waiting for traditional retirement. Burnout and other factors caused the number of working physicians in Minnesota to drop by 9% last year.”

The State “needs state and federal investments to confront this trend of doctors leaving practice, which can particularly hurt smaller, rural communities. [For example,] Mayo’s hospital in New Prague, Minn., had to stop scheduling baby deliveries this year after one doctor retired and another went on leave.”

“Solutions include a $750,000 federal grant so Lakewood Hospital in Staples, Minn., can train the next generation of family medicine doctors in obstetrics. A campus of the University of Minnesota Medical School is opening in St. Cloud and taking its first class of 24 students in fall 2025.”

“Students from rural Minnesota don’t pursue physician careers as much, but the presence of a medical school will give them more opportunities and hopefully inspiration, said Dr. Jill Amsberry, a CentraCare pediatrician and assistant dean for the new medical school campus. ‘If you train students in rural Minnesota,’ she said, ‘they are much more likely to stay in rural Minnesota.’”

Minnesota nursing is experiencing the same challenge although “nursing levels are showing signs of improving in Minnesota hospitals. About 11% of nursing jobs have been vacant this year in Minnesota’s hospitals and affiliated clinics, a decline from 15% last year but an increase from 3% before the pandemic in 2019.”

To meet this nursing challenge, “Hospitals have leaned on flexible scheduling as the share of nurses working part-time has increased from 41% in 2019 to almost 49%. Rapid training programs have helped, and the Minnesota Legislature responded in the past two years with loan-forgiveness programs to make it affordable for students to pursue nursing.”

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[1]  Foreign Physicians Needed To Solve U.S. Doctor Shortage, dwkcommentaries.com (June 1, 2024).

[2] Olson, Nurse vacancies decline but physician shortage grows at Minnesota hospitals, StarTribine (Sept. 3, 2024).

 

Nearly 90% of Cuba’s Population Is Affected by Extreme Poverty      

The Cuban Observatory of Human Rights, which is a Spanish based NGO. in a July 16th report (The State of Social Rights in Cuba) asserted that nearly 90% of Cuba’s population is affected by extreme poverty.[1]

This conclusion is a result of “how the food crisis, the shortage of medicines and unemployment affect millions of Cubans, in the face of the government’s disastrous performance.”

As a result, 91% of Cubans in a survey disapproved of the Government’s economic and social management while only 4% support that management.

“These data reflect the situation of poverty, shortage of food and medicine, and precariousness of basic public services that burden millions of Cuban families. The serious situation of social rights, together with repression and little confidence in the future, is at the root of the growing migratory exodus that is being experienced.”

Seven out of ten Cubans have stopped eating breakfast, lunch or dinner due to lack of money or food shortages. Only 15% of those surveyed have been able to eat three meals a day without interruption.

The worst affected sectors of the population are the elderly, people who do not receive remittances, the unemployed and prisoners.

Despite this public opinion, “everything indicates that the Cuban regime is preparing another shock plan, within the framework of what it has called ‘war economy,’ which will imply, as usual, more sacrifices for the population. Cuba urgently needs full respect for civil and political rights, economic openness and actions to reverse the serious situation of poverty, something that is impossible with the current system.”

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[1] Extreme Poverty in Cuba affects nearly 90% of the population, reveals a study by the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights, Diario de Cuba (July 16, 2024).