The American consulate in Cuba will resume its activities, announced Thursday, March 3 Timothy Zúñiga-Brown, charge d’affaires of the United States embassy in Havana.
“We are pleased to announce that the U.S. Embassy Havana will begin the limited resumption of some migrant visa services, as part of a phased expansion of embassy services.”the diplomat told reporters. “Migrant visa services are a safe and legal route to family reunification” separated between Cuba and the United States, he insisted.
This measure, which will be accompanied by the return to Cuba of a greater number of American diplomats, will aim to “facilitate diplomatic engagement, engagement with (Cuban) civil society and broader consular service delivery”he added, without giving a specific date.
“Havana Syndrome”
The announcement comes as, under the effect of the pandemic and the strengthening of American sanctions, Cuba is going through its worst economic crisis in thirty years, pushing many inhabitants to seek to emigrate at all costs, some by sea, but the majority by Central America, to go up to the American border.
A dangerous exodus complicated by the closure of the consulate in September 2017, ordered by Donald Trump due to alleged health incidents – dubbed “Havana Syndrome” – having touched diplomats stationed on the island. US authorities say at least 24 of them suffered between late 2016 and August 2017 from migraines, nausea and mild brain damage, which they say was caused by advanced hearing aids.
For Cubans, obtaining a visa for the United States then became an obstacle course, with the obligation to go through a third country, at their own expense, to apply. “While we work to achieve this goal, the Embassy in Georgetown, Guyana will continue to be the primary location for processing Cuban migrant visa applications.”said the business manager on Thursday.
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