On April 16, 2024, the U. S. and Cuba held another round of immigration dialogue. [1]
The U.S. statement about the dialogue was very noncommittal. It said the following: “So these were bilateral discussions between the United States and Cuba. They are bilateral discussions on migration that take place biannually, twice a year. They reflect the commitment by the United States to regularly review the implementation of the U.S.-Cuba Migration Accords, which date back to 1984. Ensuring safe, orderly, humane, and regular migration between Cuba and the United States remains a primary interest of the United States, consistent with our interest in fostering family reunification and promoting greater respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba.”
The Cuban commentary on this dialogue was more confrontive. It said before the meeting, “that it will insist that the United States ease the sanctions it blames for the migratory exodus from the island and end the ‘special treatment’ for Cubans who enter its territory illegally.”
The deputy director of American Affiars at Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Johanna Tablada de le Torre, said before the meeting. ”The [U.S.] blockade is what weighs most on the bilateral immigration situation.” Cuba blames U.S. for sanctions that are strangling the Cuban economy and the U.S.’ Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966 granting “Cubans special entry rights and support upon arrival, for encouraging [Cuban] . . . young people to emigrate.” The U.S., on the other hand, said this migration is due to “the lack of civil liberties and human rights in Cuba . . . combined with a state-dominated economy.”
Cuba also accused the U.S. “of using federal funds to finance the main media and digital platforms that, according to the [Cuban] regime, are those that ‘stimulate irregular emigration.’ [Cuba] also accused [U.S.] senior government officials of participating in what were described as “communication operations of discredit and aggression.”
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[1] U.S. State Dep’t, Department Press Briefing, April 16, 2024; Havana insists that Washington ease sanctions, which it blames for the migratory exodus, Diario de Cuba (April 14, 2024).