Cuba urges US to comply with migration deals

Havana, July 12: Cuba has urged the US government to comply with the 1994 migration agreements which stipulate 20,000 immigrant visas should be granted annually to Cuban nationals, pressing Washington to restart consular services in Havana. According to a statement by the Cuban Foreign Ministry on Wednesday, the two countries held a meeting in Washington to discuss migration issues as part of their limited diplomatic ties, which deteriorated after US President Donald Trump came to power, reports Xinhua news agency.

Both sides acknowledged the benefits of the joint declaration in January 2017 ending Washington’s “wet foot, dry foot” policy on Cuban migrants, which since its adoption in 1995 has engaged in selective migratory treatment, granting residency to Cuban migrants touching US soil but deporting those spotted at sea. The Cuban delegation stated it complies with its obligations regarding the bilateral accords and reiterated the island’s will to continue holding talks and deepen cooperation on migration-related issues, the statement said. (IANS)