HAVANA ( Associated Press) — An unsanctioned ship with about twenty people trying to reach the United States illegally capsized this week, killing at least five people, island officials said.
The official website Cubadebate indicated on Saturday that the incident occurred north of Cayo Cruz de Padre in Matanzas province.
The United States has ordered changes to its immigration policy towards the island to try to stem the record influx of migrants from various Latin American countries, including Cuba.
According to reports, Border Guard personnel rescued 11 people alive and recovered five bodies, while 12 people are missing.
The shipwreck was caused by strong waves on Tuesday, explained the survivors, who managed to call for help.
The migrants, all residents of the small town of Cárdenas, left on Monday the 23rd from a point called Torontella.
During the US fiscal year, from October 2021 to September 2022, border security officers recorded more than 220,000 contacts crossing the border through Mexico, while the Coast Guard intercepted 6,182 migrants. Both the figures are the highest in recent times.
Many traveled to Nicaragua, where visas were not required, and then hired smugglers for the perilous journey north. Most gained admission to the United States, where after a year they could apply for residency under the Cuban Adjustment Act which granted them refugee treatment.
Earlier in the month, President Joe Biden included amendments to his immigration policy through the “parole” program, or entry permit, that allows people to obtain a sponsor and related authorization in the United States before attending an online program. forces the process to complete. threshold limit.
The route will accept 30,000 migrants from Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua and Haiti with legal work permits for two years. The Pre-Management Mechanism was implemented for Venezuelans from last year.
In the case of attempting to enter illegally, migrants will be expeditiously deported and barred from entering the United States for five years, making them ineligible to receive the benefits of humanitarian or refugee programs .
