Cuba receives more migrants deported by the U.S.

• Cuba receives migrants deported by the U.S.
• There were around 28 people.
• So far 91 people have arrived in Cuba from the U.S. in 2024

The United States returned 28 Cuban migrants to the island, marking a milestone in the midst of an unprecedented migration crisis.

Intercepted at sea after an illegal departure, this group joins 91 others who were deported in 2024.

Furthermore, the bilateral agreement between Havana and Washington, which provides for the return of migrants intercepted at sea, remains firm.

The situation reveals the complexity of Cuban migration, aggravated by the economic crisis in that country.

Cuba receives migrants deported by the U.S.

On Friday, Cuba received 28 migrants who were deported by the United States, according to the EFE agency.

So far 91 Cubans have been deported from the U.S and returned by sea in 2024.

This new group of 23 men and three women had tried to enter the United States illegally after leaving Cuba.

They were intercepted at sea by the U.S. Coast Guard, according to Ministry of the Interior (Minint).

How many groups have been returned to Cuba?

With this operation, carried out through the Port of Orozco in the province of Artemisa, the North American authorities have returned four groups of rafters by sea this year.

Cuban officials affirmed that the country «firmly» maintains its commitment to “safe and orderly” migration.

At the same time, they insisted on warning of the danger and life-threatening conditions that illegal departures from the country by sea represent.

Havana and Washington have a bilateral agreement so that all migrants who arrive in the U.S. by sea are returned to the island.

How many Cuban migrants has the U.S. intercepted?

During the last fiscal year, which began on October 1, 2022 and ended on September 30, 2023, nearly 7,000 Cubans were intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Added to this was the resumption of deportation flights agreed to by both countries at the end of 2022.

Furthermore, this mainly included people considered “inadmissible” after being held at the border with Mexico.

Between 2022 and 2023 a record number of 425,000 Cuban migrants arrived at the southern border of the United States.

Is the U.S. the only country that sent back Cuban migrants?

Of that total, 200,287 arrived during the last fiscal year, according to a report from Customs and Border Patrol.

In 2023, Cuba welcomed back a total of 5,253 nationals, mostly from the United States, the EFE highlighted.

However, other countries such as Mexico, Bahamas, Belize, Cayman Islands and the Dominican Republic also returned migrants.

Cuba is going through an unprecedented migratory wave fueled by a serious economic crisis, with shortages of basic products, rampant inflation and power outages, according to the AP.

A complicated migration situation

Estimates for 2022 indicate that 4% of the Cuban population left the country, EFE reported.

This situation poses challenges for both Cuban and American authorities, highlighting the need to address the problem.

On the other hand, migration became a topic of interest in the United States due to the increase in immigrants to the country.

In recent reports, official U.S. sources said in a call with journalists that the migration crisis does not represent a problem for the United States, but rather «a regional challenge.»

Mexico and the U.S. are meeting to discuss immigration

Recently, high-level delegations from the United States and Mexico will resume talks about migration on Friday in Washington.

At this meeting, they want to reach an agreement and try to reduce border crossings after the record numbers at the end of last year, the EFE agency indicated.

The Mexican Government delegation, led by Foreign Minister Alicia Bárcena, will travel to the U.S. capital to meet with their counterparts, including the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken.

With this meeting, the talks from last December 28, when both delegations met urgently in Mexico City, will be resumed.