Cubans arrested by Mexican immigration fear deportation

 Some 350 Cubans remain trapped in the Siglo XXI migratory station, located on the outskirts of Tapachula, in the Mexican state of Chiapas, waiting for the salvoconducto that will allow them to remain in the country for 10 days, the period that migrants take to reach the northern border and cross into the United States.

Some 350 Cubans remain trapped in the Siglo XXI migratory station, located on the outskirts of Tapachula, in the Mexican state of Chiapas, waiting for the salvoconducto that will allow them to remain in the country for 10 days, the period that migrants take to reach the northern border and cross into the United States.

"The situation is bad. Almost all of us are sick with the flu", declared one of the Cuban migrants from Siglo XXI, who asked to remain anonymous, but whom we will call Manolo in this note.

"Cubans think that Mexico has stopped deportations, but that's not the case", said the Cuban who has been at the immigration station for ten days.

"Since I arrived here, about 11 Cubans have been deported. Los sacan en pequeños grupitos en medio de la madrugada, a eso de las 4:00 am. They tell them to take them to another place, which is none other than the airport", Manolo commented alarmed.

The deportations of Cubans in irregular situations in Mexico were established in November 2015, when the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on migration that has been in force since May 1, 2016.

According to the terms of this agreement, Cuba undertakes to accept the deportation of those who have entered Mexican territory illegally, are in it irregularly after having emigrated illegally to Central American countries, or are temporarily abroad within the established legal terms.

Deportations by the sending country are carried out by air or, exceptionally, by sea.

The agreement states that undocumented migrants who have been intercepted will be reported to the authorities of their country of origin, and then the deportation process will begin, effective in a maximum of 15 days after receiving a response from the authorities.

What is not clear, however, are the elements that the Mexican authorities take into account in order to proceed with the deportation of a Cuban.

"It's like a raffle, a Russian rule, you don't get any explanations," said Manolo.

According to Mexican law, the Cuban embassy has three months to respond to Migración about the status of migrants. Those who have been away from the island for more than two years are considered to be emigrants, and the consular authorities recommend that they be granted asylum.

Mexico used to deliver salvoconductos, sometimes expeditiously, to Cubans who entered the country via the border with Guatemala, allowing them to cross the nation safely.

However, last August the Mexican government restarted the return to the island of Cubans recognized by the diplomatic legation of Havana in Mexico City.

Martí Noticias tried unsuccessfully on several occasions to establish communication with the delegate of the National Migration Institute in Chiapas, Jesús Jordán Alegría Orantes.

Source: Observatory of Legislation and Migration Policy – 11.01.2017