Dozens of Cuban beneficiaries of the parole Humanitarian workers reported weeks ago that they were stranded on the island because they had not received travel permission to the United States. Now, the authorities have issued a statement on the matter.
According to the medium Telemundo 51the Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP) issued a response on these cases, although this could cause concern among those affected.
And, according to immigration attorney Rosaly Chaviano, the response given by the CBP does not say much and suggests that such delays are “normal.”
“It doesn’t really say, it doesn’t explain why these delays are happening. It is interpreted that it is part of the process.”
After searching for answers for several weeks, the lawyer obtained them in a questionnaire from the American Immigration Lawyers Association, in which CBP agents spoke on the subject.
“They are saying that relatives who have other beneficiaries waiting have to make a decision about whether to come to the US or wait for them.”
CBP indicates in the document that family applications “cannot be prioritized over individual applications,” and that the agency recommended that family members “submit their petition together, as this may increase the likelihood that they will be processed together.” .
According to the lawyer, the CBP is saying in other words that, if someone in the family needs a broader review, the approval of the others will not be withheld for that case.
“CBP processes 30,000 cases of parole monthly. Therefore, 300 is a very small minority of cases,” the agency responded when asked about the number of Cubans affected by this.
The aforementioned media collected statements from affected people, such as that of Iriselis Toranzo, a beneficiary who is waiting for travel permission despite having sent the necessary data to CBP since January 9.
Likewise, citizen Anamelys Yinet has been waiting since November 27, 2023 for her travel authorization.
A third case indicates that his family had been waiting for more than three months to receive said permit, and that when it arrived, not everyone received it.
“The two travel groups were broken up (…) in one they only approved my husband, in the other only my cousin’s wife,” says the woman, identified as Yohani.
“We only have to make them aware of our separation,” he added.
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