Migration Talks Between U.S. And Cuba Held For The First Time In Four Years

In the highest-level formal U.S. talks since President Joe Biden assumed office last year, U.S. and Cuban officials met in Washington on Thursday to discuss migration concerns.

The meeting sought to restore the U.S.-Cuba Migration Accords, under which the United States agrees to issue at least 20,000 immigrant visas annually to Cubans, and Cuba agrees to accept the deportation flights of those who arrived illegally.

The U.S.-Cuba talks are usually held twice a year, but these were suspended when Donald Trump became president of the United States, in a bid to reverse Barack Obama’s decision to open to Cuba that caused a restoration of diplomatic relations in 2015.

This also prompted the partial closure of the U.S. Embassy in Havana. Cubans applying for U.S. visas during its closure had to travel to Guyana to process their applications. Washington Post reported that this system is expected to continue, even though there are plans to reopen the consulate next month with a skeleton staff.

In an official statement, the U.S. Department of State has “addressed consular services at U.S. Embassy Havana,” which includes the reopening of immigrant visa services on a limited basis in May, as well as current American citizen services and issuance of emergency non-immigrant visas.

“Enabling safe, legal, and orderly migration between Cuba and the United States remains a mutual interest between the United States and Cuba and is consistent with U.S. interests in fostering family reunification and promoting greater respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba,” the statement said.