The Government of Cuba and Belize will hold bilateral meetings at the end of October to discuss the increase in the number of Cuban citizens arriving in the Central American country.
Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration of Belize, pointed out that Cuban migrants are the “most worrying” group for the Belizean Government, either because they enter the United States in transit or to stay in the country, the newspaper published. local Breaking Belize News.
“We have noticed an increase in illegal immigrants and irregulars,” Courtenay told the local newspaper, and the Cubans increased significantly.
Belize, on the Caribbean coast of Central America, has become a transit destination for Cubans leaving the Island, submerged in its worst economic and social crisis in recent history. In their eagerness to reach the United States, some try to cross the sea in rustic boats in the Straits of Florida and others resort to the route from Guatemala to Mexico, entering through Belize.
Courtenay assured that this situation was a central issue at a recent meeting of the Immigration Department, in which “recommendations” were prepared that will be delivered in a document to the Cuban government.
Belize, on the Caribbean coast of Central America, has become a transit destination for Cubans leaving the Island, submerged in its worst economic crisis
For Courtenay, the “most important challenge” is to deport Cubans to the island, because there are no direct flights between the two countries. Some migrants were transferred on Panamanian Copa Airlines flights, but, the official assured, in the last deportation exercise, the migrants caused problems and the airline warned the Government that it will no longer accept this type of passenger.
The Belizean government will seek rapprochement with the Biden Administration to receive assistance because “avoiding migrants passing through Belize also serves the interests of the United States.”
In this regard, Courtenay published on Twitter this Thursday a photograph with the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, which he accompanied with the message: “It was good to catch up to discuss issues of importance to Belize and the US. We committed to continue working on issues of mutual interest”.
The migration crisis in Cuba continues to be unstoppable. US authorities have intercepted 6,182 rafters since October 1, 2021, the highest number since 2016, while the Government of Mexico reports that Cuban citizens are the second group that most requests asylum when crossing its borders.
The Mexican Commission for Refugee Aid reported that 14,056 Cuban migrants had requested protection at the end of September 2022, only surpassed by Honduras, with 23,146.
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