USA MORE THAN 16000 CUBANS ARRIVED WITHOUT VISAS AT THE BORDER WITH MEXICO IN THE PAST ONE YEAR WHICH IS HIGHEST FIGURE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 10 YEARS U.S. officials say more than 16,000 Cubans arrived without visas at the border with Mexico in the past year, the highest number in a decade. A group of 15 Cuban migrants waved to onlookers as they set sail from Grand Cayman aboard a 14-foot homemade boat on Friday after a brief overnight stop, hoping to make the risky 400-mile journey across the Caribbean to the north coast of Honduras. The boat, made from metal and fiberglass with inner tubes attached to wooden outriggers, was carrying five woman and 10 men and set off last week from Manzanillo, in eastern Cuba. Three other passengers abandoned the journey and turned themselves over to Cayman authorities for repatriation to Cuba. Cubans seeking to flee the communist-run island are heading in increasing numbers by sea to Central America and then making a long journey overland to reach the United States. One group of 32 Cuban migrants drifted for three weeks without food or water this summer after their engine failed. Only 15 were found alive when they were rescued by Mexican fishermen. U.S. officials say more than 16,000 Cubans arrived without visas at the border with Mexico in the past year, the highest number in a decade. Cuban officials have not commented on the illegal boat departures, but blame the U.S. policy for encouraging migrants to risk their lives. Under Washingtons wet foot, dry foot policy, Cuban migrants who make it onto U.S. soil are allowed to remain, while those intercepted at sea are turned back.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Nov 2014 02:38:19 +0000
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