Washington, DC - The United States and Cuba held biannual Migration Talks in Washington, DC on Wednesday, July 11.

The delegations discussed the significant reduction in irregular migration from Cuba to the United States since the implementation of the January 2017 Joint Statement. Apprehensions of Cuban migrants at U.S. ports of entry decreased by 88 percent from fiscal year 2017 to 2018. The United States again raised the need for increased Cuban cooperation in the return of Cubans with final orders of removal from the United States.

The United States also reiterated that until it is safe to fully staff our Embassy, we are able to adjudicate only official and emergency visas in Havana.

A strong migration policy is vital to the United States’ national security. The Migration Talks, which began in 1995, provide a forum for the United States and Cuba to review and coordinate efforts to ensure safe, legal, and orderly migration between Cuba and the United States.

Coordinator for Cuban Affairs Gabriel Escobar and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Ed Ramotowski led the U.S. delegation. The Cuban delegation was led by Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, the Foreign Ministry’s Director General for U.S. Affairs.

The talks were last held in December 2017.