Tag: Cuban asylum seekers
Dozen migrants leave Cayman illegally, says CBC
(CNS): The Customs and Border Control Service (CBC) has said that an investigation is currently underway into a report that a dozen undocumented migrants who were in Cayman awaiting processing have left the jurisdiction illegally. The group includes ten Cuban nationals as well as two Ethiopians who were mistreated and smuggled here against their will […]
Cubans using CAL to get to mainland
(CNS): Cabinet has approved amendments to the Customs and Border Control (Visas, Entry and Landing) Regulations, 2019 to introduce in-transit visas for Cuban nationals. Statistics show that significant numbers of Cuban nationals are travelling through the Cayman Islands and onto mainland South or Central American countries on a return ticket but are not returning. Instead, […]
CBC boss says changes have reduced Cuban migrants
(CNS): After a post-Covid surge of Cuban migrants arriving in Cayman waters last year, a change in legislation to allow Customs and Border Control to speed up asylum applications appears to have had an impact. No irregular migrants from the neighbouring island have arrived here since January, as word has spread about the new approach.
Cubans deported as changes speed up process
(CNS): Changes to the legislation at the end of last year to make asylum claims more difficult for irregular migrants have enabled the Cayman Islands Government to speed up the deportation process for Cuban migrants whose claims have been denied. The CI Customs and Border Control Service (CBC) repatriated six Cuban men from Grand Cayman […]
Rescued migrants handed to Cuban authorities
(CNS): Eight Cuban nationals were found adrift at sea and rescued by an oil tanker on 14 December but were handed over to the Cuban Border Guard (CBG) with the help of the Cayman authorities. According to a press release from the Ministry of Border Control, the Cubans were picked up by the MV Hellespont Pride […]
Changes coming to make asylum claims more difficult
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Government has steered legislation through parliament, without opposition, to make asylum claims more difficult for irregular migrants and speed up the process. As Border Control Minister Chris Saunders brought an amendment bill to parliament Monday, he said the number of Cubans now arriving was creating a crisis, and changes to the […]
18 more Cuban migrants arrive over two days
(CNS): On Monday and Tuesday an additional 18 migrants arrived in local waters in two separate vessels. All of the men and women are now in the custody of Customs and Border Control as they begin the immigration process. In what is turning out to be one of the busiest years here for Cuban migrants […]
Migrant numbers pose increasing challenge
(CNS): Over the last week another 39 Cuban migrants have arrived in the Cayman Islands, including seventeen people who were rescued at sea by the Caribe Legend, a cargo ship heading to Grand Cayman. The sixteen men and one woman arrived safely at the George Town port on Sunday morning. They join more than 300 […]
Migrant policy under review as budget set to rise
(CNS): The Customs and Border Control Service (CBC) has warned that if the current increase in Cuban migrant arrivals continues, it will need more money to cover the costs of managing them as it has already spent $450,000 so far this year and only has around $300,000 left from the funds allotted for 2022. In […]
Cayman prepares plan for potential influx of migrants
(CNS): Last year government spent $850,000 managing Cuban migrants, but a continued surge of people fleeing the communist island nation could cost much more and put a severe strain on local resources, as happened most notably almost 30 years ago when more than 2,000 Cubans passed through the Cayman Islands. However, the Cayman Islands Government […]
CBC loses track of four Cuban migrants
(CNS): Four Cuban nationals who were being housed in the community while their applications to remain as asylum seekers continue to be processed have gone missing. Customs and Border Control said they are investigating the situation with partner agencies but have not said when they lost track of the individuals or if they were tagged […]
