Fernandez de Cossio: The threat of uncontrolled migration through the Florida Straits in Summer needs to be discussed

Washington, April 26 (RHC)--Cuba Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio says the U.S. should end the policy to make life as difficult as possible for the Cuban people and stop the incentives that encourage many Cubans to migrate illegally.

In remarks on this Tuesday's edition of Democracy Now, hosted by journalist Amy Goodman, the Cuban diplomat provided a background to the bilateral migration talks held in Washington last week.

The reinforcement of the economic blockade, the lack of fulfillment of the migratory agreements, and the existing incentives that make Cubans believe that if they reach the U.S. border,  they almost automatically would be accepted inspire many to make the dangerous journey by land or sea.

Fernandez de Cossio said that the current figures of Cuban crossing the US Mexican border and the threat of irregular and uncontrolled migration through the Florida Straits in the coming summer months are issues that need to be discussed.

He recalled that since 2017, the U.S. shut down the processing of visas in Havana and that since then, it has not fulfilled its commitment to grant a minimum of twenty thousand legal migrant visas to Cuba.

"When you accumulate that during the years, you have to understand that there is a potential to migrate," he added.

The Cuban diplomat warned that if U.S. politicians believe that to tackle irregular migration, there is a need to address the economic condition of the countries of origin; it is contradictory to the treatment accorded to Cuba.