Cuba: Treatment of Cubans who "jump ship" upon their return to Cuba, and penalties for illegal exit
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 7 April 2000 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | CUB34225.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Cuba: Treatment of Cubans who "jump ship" upon their return to Cuba, and penalties for illegal exit, 7 April 2000, CUB34225.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad574.html [accessed 19 May 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. |
The information that follows adds to that provided in CUB32133.E of 28 June 1999 and CUB31690.E of 14 June 1999.
The only specific reference to Cuban sailors who attempt to stay abroad illegally was found in Country Reports 1999 and its previous edition. The document states that
The Government has a policy of denying exit permission for several years to relatives of individuals who successfully have migrated illegally (e.g., merchant seamen who have jumped ship overseas, and sports figures who have defected while on tour abroad) (25 Feb. 2000, Section 2.d.).
The Human Rights Watch World Report 2000 states that
Cuba confined persons for "illegal exit" when they attempted to exercise their right to leave the country. In August 1999, the government ordered that no Cuban who had emigrated through illegal channels after September 1994 could ever return to the island. Previously, those who left illegally were allowed to visit after spending five years abroad.
In a report referring to the situation of Cubans repatriated by the United States after attempting to leave Cuba illegally, The Washington Post reports:
U.S. officials said they also are concerned that reprisals are taken against Cubans brought back by the Coast Guard. Under the agreements, U.S. consular officials here try to visit every repatriated islander within six months to make sure they are not being mistreated. Officials said they were concerned that some of the Cubans were deprived of employment and that others were harassed by local Communist Party organizations.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate 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. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1999. 25 February 2000. "Cuba."
Human Rights Watch World Report 2000. 9 December 1999. "Cuba."
The Washington Post. 13 December 1999. Karen DeYoung. "U.S., Cuba Discuss Immigration Pact; Washington and Havana at Odds on Smuggling, Return of Illegal Migrants." (NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
Cubanet News [Miami]. Internet search engines. 1999.
Latin American Regional Reports: Central America & the Caribbean [London]. 1999-Mar. 2000.
Latinamerica Press
This list is not exhaustive. It does not include subject and country-specific publications available at the Resource Centre.
