Cuba and the United States hold immigration talks in Washington DC

Washington, April 16, 2024 - On April 16, 2024, representatives of Cuba and the United States held bilateral migration talks in Washington DC. 

Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío Domínguez headed the Cuban delegation and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Eric Jacobstein led the U.S. delegation.

During the meeting, the parties reviewed the implementation of the bilateral Migration Agreements, whose texts set forth the mutual commitment to guarantee regular, safe and orderly migration.

The Cuban delegation reaffirmed its willingness to comply with and respect, as it has done to date, the commitments established and reiterated its concern over the policies and measures to encourage irregular migration that remain in place as a result of a political decision by the U.S. government. 

Cuba emphatically denounced the negative impact that the U.S. economic blockade and its extreme reinforcement applied since 2019, exert on the socioeconomic conditions of the Cuban population, a factor that constitutes an important incentive to migration. In this regard the following was highlighted: keeping the country on the so-called List of State Sponsors of Terrorism, the preferential treatment still received by Cubans who illegally enter U.S. territory and the validity of the Cuban Adjustment Act.

The Cuban delegation reiterated the importance of reestablishing the processing of non-immigrant visas at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, a consular facility that would prevent the movement to third countries of Cuban citizens interested in this type of visa.

Cuba insisted on the importance of complying with bilateral migration agreements in their entirety and not selectively, and reaffirmed its willingness to continue the rounds of talks on migration issues with the United States.

 Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs