US Coast Guard sends 119 migrants back to Cuba
Al JazeeraNov 25, 2021
In Talks, Cuba Blames US Sanctions for Migrant Exodus
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The Facts
US and Cuban officials held a second round of talks in Havana on Tuesday over the record flood of Cubans fleeing the island's economic crisis. The discussions were an effort to understand how best to stop the exodus of Cubans to the US.
The two countries have increased legal pathways to migration for Cubans, including visa access in Havana, family reunification, and humanitarian parole programs. However, Cuba argues the problem won't go away as long as the US maintains sanctions that are weighing down the island’s economy.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
As long as Washington insists on enforcing the sanctions and its decades-old trade embargo, there's no end in sight for Cuba's worst economic crisis in decades. Cubans are leaving the island in record numbers for better opportunities abroad, mainly in the US, and even a vote by the UN General Assembly calling on the US to end the embargo doesn't seem to be making a difference in stubborn US policy.
Pro-establishment narrative
In fact, communication between Washington and Havana countries seems like the best path forward, and discussions have already led to the expansion of safe and regular pathways to the US. More must be done to avoid having Cubans deal with the dangers of crossing through Mexico on foot, but building on improved bilateral relations under America's initiative will go a long way to easing migration issues.
