In less than a month they have transcended two cases of extortion by ‘Green Cards’ lost on the island.
Miami, United States. – The United States Embassy in Havana issued this Tuesday A “national security alert” Given the increase in American travel documents in Cuba, including permanent residence cards (Green Cards)and extortion reports to recover them.
“The United States Embassy has noticed an increase in the theft of American travel documents in Cuba, including permanent residence cards. Victims have reported extortion cases, which requires large sums of money to return stolen documents,” says the text of the alert.
The diplomatic headquarters links the phenomenon with the deterioration of economic conditions and warns of a criminal rebound: “Minor crimes, such as the theft of bags, wallets and robberies in vehicles represent a risk for travelers in Cuba. Violent crimes, such as armed robberies and homicides, are also increasing. It is recommended to all travelers who take care Cuba ”.
Among the suggested measures, the embassy calls to be attentive to the environment, not to exhibit signs of wealth, not physically resist before an attempt to rob and avoid carrying travel documents unnecessarily, keeping them in a safe place and with digital backup copies.
It also recommends denouncing immediately before local authorities if a robbery or extortion occurs and avoid offering rewards, for the risk of encouraging these practices. He also urges to immediately report the loss or theft of the US passport and contact the embassy to receive guidance on how to return to the United States.
Last week It transcended that a Facebook user demanded $ 5,000 to return a Green Card which belonged to a young Cuban American visit in Camagüey. The grandmother of the affected, Aracelis Gálvez Delgado, told Martí News that they already went to the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) and the US embassy.
According to his story, his granddaughter, Glenda de la Caridad Torres, traveled for eight days to see a sick relative and the documents disappeared after arriving home: “The girl came just for eight days, because she studies in the United States. When we got home and prepared her things for the return, we realized that her residence and the passport had disappeared.”
The woman added that the young woman “remembers having put them in her wallet at Camagüey airport.” “There someone helped us with the bags and we believe it was at that time,” he said. “We already went to the police and now we are waiting in the first unit of the PNR. They also told us to go to the US embassy so that the girl can manage a travel document. She is very depressed because she came just to help me and met this situation, in addition to heat and blackouts,” he added.
The case is similar to Another reported in August: Cuban Leonardo Peña de la Cruz, permanent resident in the US Green Card on the island and asked for $ 4,000 to recover it.
The affected said: “They want to charge me 4,000 USD for recovering the residence. I had to come from Guantanamo to Havana to introduce myself at the United States embassy, where they attended me very well and they are helping me.” On the robbery, he said: “I was on my way to my house. Already in the East, I stopped in a place to eat because the trip is more than 10 hours. When I got off a few minutes, I broke my glass of the car and stole the documents. Many people tell me why I was going with that above, but it is logical. I had just arrived from the trip, I had not yet arrived at my house.”
The young man also recommended not yielding to extortion: “That is unusual, crazy. No one is going to pay that amount, unless it is very desperate. I kept calm, I didn’t even contact that person. My advice is that nobody lets you get extort.
He also requested extreme precautions with objects in sight in vehicles: “Leave nothing in sight inside the vehicles, nor a cap. The situation is very bad and people walk.
Lawyers consulted by that means also recommend not paying bailouts and record before the police. Immigration lawyer Ismael Labrador explained the possible procedure when returning to the US: “With that report, the person can travel without physical residence. When arriving in the United States, the worst thing that can happen is that immigration is issued an I-193 Waiverwhich can leave for free or cost up to $ 685. After that, already within the country, you can present Form I-90 to replace the Green Card. “And he stressed:” The most important thing is that they get in touch with US authorities in our embassy. They are going to guide them and know what to do. ”
The United States Embassy in Havana reiterated that travelers must report incidents to local authorities and request consular assistance. For additional information, he oriented to consult the information page for travelers to Cuba.
