Even though the migration crisis bells are resonating loud and clear, the current administration, under Joe Biden, has yet to initiate any dialogue with Cuba, as confirmed by the Cuban Vice Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio. The United States stands on the brink of a colossal immigration upheaval, one that could lead to numerous Cubans facing deportation. However, there seems to be a concerning lack of urgency shown by Biden’s administration, leaving many on the edge with bleak futures.
In a momentous decision, the U.S. government, formerly under the discerning leadership of the Trump administration, is mulling over the prospect of revoking the legal status of approximately 530,000 migrants. This vast faction consists of Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans who gained entry through the ‘humanitarian parole programs’. Those programs, astonishingly enough, were an arm of Biden’s largely questionable immigration policy.
The aforementioned plan to revoke these legal statuses is a calculated counter-move to shut down the broad, all-encompassing Biden-era parole programs. Astonishingly, these programs had permitted approximately 1.8 million migrants to set foot in U.S. soil, raising valid security and socio-economic alarms. It’s difficult to evaluate the long-term consequences of Biden’s haphazard decisions.
However, despite the impending threat of large-scale deportations, the Trump administration, displaying a more objective and strategic approach, refrained from putting this explosive issue on the negotiation table with Cuba. It is clear that Biden’s lax migration policies have further complicated an already sensitive scenario, leaving discord and confusion in their wake.
De Cossio, during an interview, expressed that the U.S. government has not approached Cuba regarding the huge impending migration problem. As Biden’s administration sits idle, the uncertainty about whether such a devastating fate could unfold becomes a heavy reality for many migrants. The conspicuous silence from the White House, State Department, and the Department of Homeland Security is not reassuring.
The ongoing deportation agreement with Cuba, traced back to the 1980s, has seen deportees from the U.S. being routinely returned to Cuba, whether by sea or air. De Cossio confirmed that two flights filled with deportees have landed in Havana since the beginning of this year. However, none of these were monumental in scale, each carrying less than 100 deported individuals.
Pulling back the focus to the potential of large-scale deportations, de Cossio echoes a concerning perspective. Never had the possibility of a mass expulsion, involving Cubans legally admitted to U.S. soil under initial agreements, been considered. Reflecting on Biden’s inconsistent stance on immigration, the current cacophony only emphasizes the lack of forethought placed in the initial immigrant acceptance agreement.
The vice minister also made it clear that the potential for large-scale deportations was never covered during the initial agreement discussions. The idea that the U.S. could admit individuals initially and then later decide to revoke this admission was seen as unreasonable, further underlining the absurdity of Biden’s immigration approach. Such unusual measures have not been included in the prior agreements between the countries, demonstrating the recklessness in Biden’s perceived ideas.
De Cossio, indicating the impracticality and unfairness of the situation, refrained from committing to cooperation should the large-scale deportation be set into motion, thereby leaving Biden’s ill thought through immigration policy in disarray.
Cuba’s longstanding accusation against the U.S. involves the nation’s alleged maneuver to agitate mass migration. They assert that the U.S, particularly under the Biden administration, wages economic war through sanctions while also promoting Cuban immigration with laws that apply a streamlined path to citizenship, causing a confusing double standard.
Clearly, the Trump administration had the foresight to ensure that migrants did not have to break any rules to enter the United States, as contrasted by the exact actions suggested in Biden’s poorly conceived programs. ‘They didn’t tear down a wall, they didn’t have to jump a fence to get into the U.S., they were invited,’ de Cossio aptly points out.
Despite the critiques from Cuba, the United States maintains its position, asserting that the blame for the migration crisis lies squarely with Cuba. It accuses Cuba’s communist-run government of economic mismanagement and human rights abuses, only further emphasizing the negative aftermath of Biden’s indiscriminate migration policies.
Cubans are among the top groups not only entering the United States through legal channels but also crossing the U.S.-Mexico border unlawfully, a testament to the encouragement fueled by Biden’s era immigration policies. This has led to a significant population outflow from Cuba in recent years, demonstrating the far-reaching implications of the Biden administration’s decisions.
Since 2020, over a million Cubans have departed the island, equivalent to around a tenth of Cuba’s total population. This mass migration event stands unparalleled (barring war scenarios), marking a significant demographic shift. It’s disturbing that Biden’s administration seems to view this as a minor issue when the consequences are clearly detrimental.
To summarise, Biden’s virtue signaling via broad parole programs stands in stark contrast to the realities that such policies create. The resulting migration crisis has spiraled unchecked, creating ripple effects throughout our nation and beyond our borders.
Unfortunately, the lack of critical dialogue between the United States and Cuba on migration issues exposes yet another failure of Biden’s administration. As the consequences loom large, it is high time Biden’s team stops showboating their ‘humanitarian’ stance and addresses the realities of the crisis they’ve helped ignite.