The US government announced on Thursday the reopening of its immigration services in Cuba, after being closed for more than four years, adding that, with this office, it will be possible to manage the processes of Cuban families already established in the United States.
The Havana-based office will conduct interviews, collect biometric data and process immigration applications to the United States, the US Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.
“This administration is taking measures to reduce illegal entries, prevent the development of smuggling organizations and simplify legal access to humanitarian aid,” said the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas.
“Just as my own relatives fled the island almost 63 years ago after the communists took it over, Cubans deserve the opportunity to seek legal avenues for a new life in the United States,” he added.
This immigration office was closed in December 2018, after a change of course in US policy towards Cuba.
The decision was also a response to the mysterious “Havana syndrome,” as-yet-unexplained medical conditions that have affected dozens of US diplomats or embassy staff.
To combat illegal immigration, particularly along the border with Mexico, Washington launched a program in January to accept up to 30,000 migrants a month from Nicaragua, Venezuela, Cuba and Haiti.
Source: TSF
