A total of 108 migrants who had left Cuba illegally by sea were returned this Tuesday, as part of three operations carried out in accordance with the migration agreements signed by the island with neighboring nations.
A group of 20 people, including two minors, were returned on a flight from the Cayman Islands, while another 50 were delivered to the port of Orozco, belonging to the province of Artemisa, by the Coast Guard of the United States, according toa note of Ministry of the Interior (Minint).
A total of 108 irregular migrants who had left the country illegally by sea were returned to #Cuba on Tuesday the 31st in three operations carried out in accordance with bilateral migration agreements. These operations amount to 23, with 1,901 returned. pic.twitter.com/TRljL77KEa
— MININT_CUBA (@minint_cuba) February 1, 2023
Also by air, but from the Bahamas, another 38 people were returned, including a minor. Most of the irregular migrants returned during the journey are from the provinces of Villa Clara, Matanzas, Ciego de Ávila and Camagüey, the publication refers
The Minint also points out that four people from these groups were transferred to the investigative bodies for being allegedly responsible for serious criminal acts, and that they were being investigated since before their illegal departures.
With these returns, there have been 23 operations of this type so far this year and 1,901 people returned, the report highlights.
In addition to the United States, in 2023 irregular migrants have been repatriated from the Cayman Islands, Bahamas, and Mexico.
The United States has returned more than 1,200 rafters to Cuba since the beginning of 2023
In its note, the Minint recalls the “commitment to regular, safe and orderly emigration” by the Cuban authorities and alerts about the danger and life-threatening conditions represented by illegal departures from the country by sea and irresponsible involvement juvenile.
In addition, it points to the Cuban Adjustment Act as a stimulus for Cubans to try to reach North American soil irregularly. This regulation allows access to permanent residence for those born on the island who remain in the United States for at least one year.
To this should be added the serious economic crisis that the country is experiencing, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, US sanctions and internal difficulties and inefficiencies, a situation that motivates many people to leave the island in search of better conditions. of life.
