United States of America: Information on the status given to Cubans who reach Guantanamo North American Military Base, including whether such persons are automatically given refugee or asylee status; what documents such persons are provided to remain in the USA; the rights of a Cuban refugee or asylee in the USA, including the right to return, to reside for an unlimited period of time, to study, to work and to access basic social services; on whether Cuban refugees are issued re-entry permits or refugee travel documents; and whether a Cuban refugee or asylee who leaves the USA without a travel document or re-entry permit would have the right to re-enter the United States
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 January 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | USA24857.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, United States of America: Information on the status given to Cubans who reach Guantanamo North American Military Base, including whether such persons are automatically given refugee or asylee status; what documents such persons are provided to remain in the USA; the rights of a Cuban refugee or asylee in the USA, including the right to return, to reside for an unlimited period of time, to study, to work and to access basic social services; on whether Cuban refugees are issued re-entry permits or refugee travel documents; and whether a Cuban refugee or asylee who leaves the USA without a travel document or re-entry permit would have the right to re-enter the United States, 1 January 1997, USA24857.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac66c.html [accessed 7 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Please consult the attached 23 December 1996 letter from the US Immigration and Naturalization Service, Office of International Affairs, which provides an official response on the above-mentioned subjects. Also attached are media reports and excerpts from the US Committee for Refugees (USCR) World Refugee Survey 1996, which provide information on the signing of the 9 September 1995 US-Cuba immigration accords and on the treatment of Cubans held in Guantanamo Bay.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Attachments
Chicago Sun-Times. 19 August 1996. Late Sports Final Edition. "Cuba Cites '95 Pact in Demand That U.S. Return 11 Refugees." (NEXIS)
Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 2 May 1995. BC Cycle. "U.S. to Accept Cuban Refugees in Guantanamo." (NEXIS)
The Fresno Bee. 3 May 1995. Home Edition. Leo Rennert. "U.S. Grants Entry to Cuban Refugees; Reversing Policy, Clinton Agrees to Admit Nearly 21,000 Held at Guantanamo Bay." (NEXIS)
Havana Radio and Television Networks [in Spanish]. 16 September 1994. "Alarcon Interviewed on Immigration Accord." (FBIS-LAT-94-180 16 Sept. 1994) [Internet] , [Internet] [Accessed 16 Oct. 1996])
Los Angeles Times. 10 September 1994. Home Edition. Stanley Meisler. "U.S., Cuba Sign Accord to End Migrant Exodus; Refugees: Clinton Says Orderly Immigration Will Replace Island Escapes. Havana Won No Key Concessions." (NEXIS)
_____. 19 August 1994. Southland Edition. Art Pine. "Cuba Refugees in U.S. Hold Special Immigration Status; Citizenship: Those Fleeing Castro Are Unique in Being Guaranteed Entry. Haitians, Whose Exodus is Similar, Say They Are Victims of Discrimination." (NEXIS)
The New York Times. 11 September 1994. Final Edition. Tim Golden. "U.S.-Cuba Accord Sets Off a Surge of New Refugees." (NEXIS)
The Orlando Sentinel. 3 May 1995. Central Florida Edition. "Door Closes For Refugees Fleeing Cuba; The U.S. Will Admit Refugees in Guantanamo Camps but Will Start Returning Rafters and Boat People Immediately to Cuba." (NEXIS)
Reuters. 19 March 1996. BC Cycle. "Thousands of Cubans in U.S. Migration Lottery." (NEXIS)
_____. 14 June 1995. "Latest Group of Cubans Repatriated by U.S. Coast Guard." (NEXIS)
The Toronto Star. Final Edition. 4 May 1995. "Cuba, U.S. Reach Pact in Toronto on Refugees." (NEXIS)
United States Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Office of International Affairs, Washington, DC. 23 December 1996. Letter received by the DIRB.
US Committee for Refugees (USCR). 1996. World Refugee Survey 1996. Washington, DC: USCR, pp. 186-88, 200.
