Cuban migrant numbers climb again

Cuban migrants in Cayman waters (file photo)

(CNS): A group of Cubans that arrived in Cayman Brac at the weekend have been transported to the detention centre in Fairbanks on Grand Cayman, pushing the facility to its limits once again. The movement of migrants from Cuba continues to increase and they are arriving in Cayman in ever more dangerous vessels in which they are attempting to cross treacherous stretches of ocean to reach Central America.

The latest group of ten women and 26 men arrived in the Brac on Saturday, crammed in another makeshift vessel, which local authorities said was not seaworthy, preventing the Cubans from continuing their journey. They were taken into custody, boosting the numbers at the Fairbanks centre, 63 where over two dozen migrants are already being held, including 18 who were rescued at sea last week off the cost of Little Cayman.

It is believed that the significant increase in migrant numbers is being fueled by fears in Cuba that the US may end its ‘wet foot-dry foot’ policy, by which any Cuban national who steps foot on American soil is allowed to remain in that country. Most of the migrants that land in Cayman intend to merely pass through, but ill-health, problems with life-saving supplies of food and water, a lack of fuel and, most often, boat problems see many of them stranded in local waters or forced to come ashore.

The cost of detaining and repatriating migrants that unintentionally land in Cayman is straining public coffers but a new memorandum of understanding has been signed between the Cuban authorities and the Cayman government, which officials claim is meant to speed up deportation. The document, however, remains under wraps and has not been released to the public.

Earlier this month legislators voted an appropriation of just over a quarter of a million dollars to deal with the housing and repatriation of ‘irregular migrants’ but in reality the figure is expected to be much greater. The final figure for the 2014/15 year is still not complete, as one week away from the financial year-end the $1.3 million forecasted is going to be exceeded.

The government noted in the budget that the low figure is because of the nature of the issue and government will need to finance the management of migrants on an as-needed basis.

During the last calendar year, around 150 Cubans landed in Cayman but double that passed through local waters, resting briefly before pressing on with the treacherous sea voyage. Since the start of 2015, an estimated 200 people have landed or passed through local waters, suggesting that government coffers will be stretched much further than budget estimates.

In addition to the cost of managing detainees and processing the Cubans, none of whom appear to be seeking asylum, the government has to manage the security of the migrants at a facility which is not properly designed as a secure unit. There have been a number of escapes from the centre and in a number of cases they have never been apprehended.