On Wednesday, during an exclusive interview on the Mesa Redonda television program, Cuba’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, addressed the history and treatment of Cubans who have emigrated to the United States, particularly in the controversial context created by the current U.S. administration’s measures regarding migrants.

The diplomat and expert in bilateral relations highlighted that it is logical for the United States to view migration as a priority issue, as it is a country formed by migrants who arrived from Europe and other parts of the world. “They shaped what the United States is today.”

He recalled that migrants have played and continue to play a fundamental role in the U.S. economy, particularly in industry, agriculture, and services. It is estimated that 20% of the workforce in these sectors consists of individuals not born in the United States. Therefore, “it is natural that migration is a priority issue for Washington.”

Additionally, he noted that migration has evolved significantly on the international stage in recent decades. As the gap between developed and developing countries widens, it is logical that more people from the so-called Global South migrate to the North. This phenomenon is evident in Europe and North America.

“For Cuba, the fact that the United States prioritizes migration is important,” said Cossío, adding that “the United States has used migration policy as a tool for destabilization against Cuba in recent decades.”

“Originally, to drain us of professionals, to steal the country’s talent, and later for destabilization purposes, by denying visas or refusing to process visas for Cubans, while simultaneously encouraging them to use irregular routes to reach the United States. This has led to several crises,” he said.

The Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized that Cuba and the United States have migration agreements in place, reflecting a mutual commitment to ensuring that migration is regular, safe, and orderly.

“There is a significant presence of Cubans in the United States,” Cossío noted, pointing out that anything related to migration has an impact on Cuba.

He explained that the large Cuban presence in the United States includes individuals who, even if born there, identify as Cuban due to family heritage. It also includes those who have acquired U.S. citizenship or temporary residency, others without legal status recognized by U.S. authorities, and some in limbo who have not been granted asylum and face the risk of deportation. Many of these individuals are labeled “illegal” by the United States.

However, he said, in recent times, the majority of Cubans who are not U.S. citizens or residents are individuals who left Cuba through regular channels. “With a passport and ticket, they are considered regular travelers by Cuba.”

He explained that people “become irregular migrants when they attempt to travel to the United States irregularly through third countries,” such as Central America or Mexico.

“When they arrive in the United States and are not granted legal status, that is when the U.S. begins to label them as ‘illegal.’ However, this is a specific reality of the United States, as they decide how to classify these individuals. From Cuba’s perspective, they are not considered illegal. They legally leave the country with a passport and a ticket,” he said.

In this regard, he noted that “many of these individuals, after leaving Cuba, manage to reach the United States as part of trafficking operations or become victims of these operations, which are largely financed and organized from U.S. territory.”

“Estimates suggest that for a Cuban emigrating regularly through the airport, the operation to reach the United States can cost between seven thousand and fifteen thousand dollars, and some even mention eighteen thousand dollars per person. If we multiply that by two hundred thousand or two hundred fifty thousand people, we are talking about multimillion-dollar operations organized and financed from U.S. territory,” he described.

The Vice Minister added that this issue has been raised in migration talks and diplomatic discussions with the United States, as well as in practical exercises between law enforcement agencies of both countries. “It is a topic we have addressed on several occasions over the years, but there is clearly no willingness on the part of the U.S. government to tackle the source of this trafficking, which passes through Central America and Mexico,” he said.

During the interview with journalist Arleen Rodríguez Derivet, it was noted that Cubans, unlike other Latin Americans, historically receive privileged treatment when arriving at the U.S. border, often being admitted easily. This has led many Cubans to believe there is an automatic privilege to be admitted and adjust their status relatively quickly.

However, there is now talk of mass deportations, a term that has generated significant fear and widespread discussion. At one point, it was even suggested that thirty thousand people could be sent to the Guantánamo Naval Base, although the U.S. military has recently denied that this is a suitable location for irregular migrants.

On this issue, Cossío emphasized that “the reality is that the relationship between Cuba and the United States has been difficult in many aspects, including the handling of mass deportations.”

“The term ‘mass deportations’ is also being used in Cuba’s case. However, we have migration agreements with the United States, under both Republican and Democratic administrations, aimed at resolving issues of irregularity, disorder, and insecurity in migration. These agreements include commitments such as issuing a minimum of twenty thousand visas annually to Cubans, returning to Cuba individuals intercepted at sea, and deportation flights for those the U.S. considers to be residing irregularly in its territory,” he said.

According to the Vice Minister, “these agreements have worked for years, and recently we have been receiving monthly flights returning Cubans whom the United States has not accepted. These individuals are labeled ‘inadmissible’ and are returned to Cuba under established procedures.”

“Now, with the threat of mass deportations, especially in the case of Cubans, it is important to consider that many of these migrants were pushed to emigrate due to the difficult economic conditions in Cuba, exacerbated by the U.S. economic blockade. It is logical that when living conditions in a country deteriorate, a portion of the population seeks to emigrate. Moreover, historically, the United States has welcomed Cubans with privileged treatment, offering them protection and facilities to settle in its territory,” he stressed.

Cossío highlighted that “it is contradictory and cruel to now talk of expelling people who have formed families, have jobs, and own property in the United States, after having been encouraged to emigrate by U.S. policies. It seems absurd and unjust for the United States to threaten mass deportations of such a large number of Cubans, especially when migration agreements have worked well in the past.”

“Under these agreements, the United States has returned tens of thousands of Cubans to Cuba since the mid-1990s, but always within an established framework of rules and conditions. Our country is open to accepting returns, but always within the agreed terms and considering the history and circumstances, even as the United States continues to apply economic and other aggressive policies against Cuba,” the diplomat stated.

At another point in the interview, the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that during periods of rapprochement and understanding between Cuba and the United States, irregular migration decreased significantly.

“The United States can review the figures: the years 2017 and 2018 saw the lowest number of irregular Cuban migrants entering its territory. This occurred when the ‘wet foot, dry foot’ policy was initially being implemented as part of an agreement in January 2017. However, this policy derailed when the U.S. government decided to stop complying with migration agreements, including processing visas in Cuba,” he commented.

Cossío emphasized that “for these agreements to be effective, as demonstrated during that period, several commitments must be met: establishing a legal pathway for Cubans to emigrate, returning those intercepted attempting to enter irregularly, and conducting regular deportation flights to repatriate those deemed inadmissible in the United States. This must be done when their irregular status is detected, not years later.”

Additionally, “there is the non-immigrant visa, which was granted for a time and allowed many people to travel, spend a period in the United States, and then return to Cuba. This helped reduce irregular migration.”

“We are talking about thousands of Cubans who have emigrated to obtain residency and live between both countries, spending part of their time in the United States and part in Cuba, or simply to visit family and friends. However, since 2017, the United States has kept the processing and issuance of temporary visit visas closed,” he stressed.

During the program, both interlocutors noted that in South Florida media, both traditional and on social networks, U.S. politicians —many of whom claim to be Cuban but act against Cuba’s interests— are constantly threatening severe migration measures. These politicians speak of migration as if Cuba were expelling its citizens due to the “failure of socialism.” Yet, they are now threatening Cubans with mass deportations, creating a sense of desperation within the Cuban community. Many are consulting lawyers and seeking information on social media to understand what the future holds.

On this issue, the Vice Minister said that a climate of harassment against Cubans has been created, exacerbated by politicians who insist that socialism is a failure but do not give Cuba the opportunity to prove otherwise if the economic blockade were lifted.

He noted that the current U.S. Secretary of State has been particularly vocal, threatening Cuban residents with losing their immigration status under the accusation that they lied when entering the country. “This is hypocritical, as it has historically been U.S. policy to accept Cubans who claim a ‘credible fear’ of returning to Cuba. Now, blaming these individuals for lying is a form of intimidation that prevents them from visiting their families in Cuba, many of whom cannot obtain visas to travel to the United States.”

“These threats not only affect Cubans who have established their lives in the United States but also those who wish to maintain ties with their country of origin. It is cruel that, after being encouraged to emigrate by U.S. policies, they are now threatened with mass deportations and the loss of their legal status,” he emphasized.

Medical Collaboration Under Threat

Regarding Cuban medical collaboration, it is important to highlight that this has been one of the most valued professions and a symbol of international solidarity since 1963. While other countries send bombs, Cuba sends doctors. However, recent measures promoted by the United States aim to attack this collaboration, affecting not only Cuba’s income but also the health situation in several countries worldwide.

On this issue, Cossío said that “the United States has begun implementing a series of aggressive measures against Cuba, many of which are not publicly announced, suggesting a preference for operating in opacity. These measures aim to curb Cuba’s sources of income, sever its ties with other countries, and limit international cooperation, including medical programs.”

He emphasized that “Cuban medical collaboration has benefited over 60 countries, with more than 12,000 healthcare professionals providing services abroad. In many cases, these doctors are the only source of medical care in remote communities.”

“Accusing Cuba of ‘human trafficking’ or ‘slavery’ is false, as Cuban professionals receive salaries in Cuba and stipends in the countries where they work, and they provide their services voluntarily,” he stated.

The Vice Minister stressed that “the United States commits a crime by attempting to deprive these communities of quality healthcare, violating the human right to access health.”

He denounced that “these actions are part of a broader strategy to attack Cuba and reinforce the economic blockade, affecting not only Cubans but also the communities that depend on their assistance.”

Ties with the Cuban Diaspora

Regarding Cuba’s relationship with its diaspora, Fernández de Cossío commented that in recent years, there has been a rapprochement, based on the understanding that these individuals remain part of the Cuban population.

“The Cuban community abroad is part of us, including children and grandchildren of Cubans born in other countries but who consider themselves descendants of this land,” he said.

He affirmed that those who have emigrated in recent years possess significant intellectual capital, and many support important national development processes.

“The Cuban government, on this issue, is making efforts in the opposite direction to the United States, which insists on repressing the possibility of these individuals strengthening ties with their country and even attempts to restrict their right to travel to their homeland,” he commented.

He recalled that U.S. society itself favors greater rapprochement with Cuba, a country it does not perceive as a threat.

“Given this, we ask what U.S. politicians fear when they propose breaking ties with Cuban families or cooperation with this country. Pe haps the root of it all is that they have failed in their attempt to make life impossible for a nation for over 60 years,” he asserted.

The Vice Minister reiterated that Cuba is fully willing to engage in dialogue with the U.S. government, from a position of respect and without renouncing the right to self-determination.

“U.S. politicians have traditionally been unable to understand that Cuba is an independent state, but we make this clear in all scenarios,” he noted.

He affirmed that the immediate goal of anti-Cuban politicians is to make life as difficult as possible on the island, cutting off access to trade, financing, and other resources to depress the population’s quality of life and use it as a hostage and spearhead to overthrow the government.

“These politicians have historically manipulated the immense power of their nation to use it against a small country and seek direct confrontation with the United States.

“Among the excuses they have invented for this conflict could be the threat of uncontrolled migration from the Caribbean nation, the myth of Chinese military bases in Cuba, or the thousands of Cuban soldiers in Venezuela, whom no one has ever seen,” he said.

He noted that these individuals profit from falsehoods, spending hundreds of millions of dollars to confuse, deceive, and distort the truth.

He highlighted the existence of polls conducted among the U.S. population that largely reflect a willingness to improve relations between the two countries.

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSí Translation Staff