GUATEMALA.—Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama and Mexico agreed on Monday, December 28, to conduct a pilot program for the transfer of Cuban migrants currently in Costa Rica to El Salvador and then Mexico.
The transfer of this first group of Cubans will take place in the first week of January, according to the final press release of the second technical meeting of the member countries of the Central American Integration System (SICA), which was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala, Prensa Latina reported.
According to the press release, a working group was formed, responsible for coordinating all matters relating to this pilot program.
Those attending the meeting, which built on the previous gathering held on December 22 in Mexico with similar objectives, reaffirmed that this measure seeks to resolve a temporary situation, and sets a precedent for the region.
It was also announced that they would convene a Regional Conference on Migration to address this issue in its entirety.
The countries represented also reaffirmed their commitment to combat human trafficking networks, and said they would apply the law “without delay” in order to severely penalize this illegal activity that “unfortunately obliges countries in the region to return to their country of origin all persons entering their territory in an unauthorized manner.”
“This will be addressed to prevent irregular migration and to firmly combat the crime of human trafficking, and primarily to protect the integrity of migrants and ensure respect for their fundamental rights,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, Costa Rican Foreign Minister Manuel González stated that he was satisfied with the agreement. “The technical meeting in Guatemala has concluded with positive results. Several countries have requested discretion over the details of the agreement and we must be respectful of that request, as some technical issues must be confirmed with the political authorities,” he explained.
González, quoted by EFE, emphasized that the agreed solution is “wholly exceptional” and will only benefit the Cubans who are currently in Costa Rican territory with their respective visa.
During the meeting Costa Rica thanked the contribution of Guatemala and those attending to the solution of problems triggered by the accumulation of Cuban migrants.
Meanwhile, from Havana, and after having spoken in the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the National Assembly of People's Power, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez stated that “Cuba requests that the solution for the thousands of Cuban migrants in Costa Rica is adequate, taking into account the welfare of these citizens, and that it is as swift as possible.”
He added that the Caribbean nation was not represented at this meeting in Guatemala “because it refers specifically to those nations that must seek ways to find a solution.”
”The politicization of U.S. migration policy toward Cuba must change, its encouragement of illegal, unsafe and disorderly migration must cease,” he stressed.
Since November 14, 2015, just over 7,000 Cubans have been stranded in Costa Rica, hoping to continue their journey on to the United States, while another 900 are awaiting visas to enter the Central American territory, according to official data.
The United States maintains its selective laws and policies in regards to Cuban migrants, in violation of the agreements signed with the island, which encourage irregular migration and threaten the lives of thousands of people whilst creating problems in several countries across the region.
