The entry of Cubans through border points of the United States experienced a new peak 177,848 registered with a request for political refuge at the end of July, according to official figures revealed this Tuesday.
With less than two months to go until the end of fiscal year 2022, the migratory flow of Cubans by land broke a new record, marking the largest irregular exodus from Cuba in the history of the United States.
The statistics released by the Department of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) show that during last July the avalanche of Cubans through the border strips of the United States territory rose to 20,496, after a slight decrease registered in June (16,448).
The majority of Cuban arrivals last month continued through the Mexican border, with 20,099. Total, 175,359 have entered from Mexico when the current fiscal period is about to end on September 30.
Reality has far exceeded the predictions of experts and the CBP authorities themselves, who anticipated the illegal entry of more than 150,000 Cuban immigrants at the end of FY2022.
The historic Cuban stampede accumulates 208,023 Cubans registered without documents in the almost 19 months of the Joe Biden administration, who since his arrival at the White House promised a change in immigration policy with respect to that of his predecessor, Donald Trump.
Although the recent elimination of the Remain in Mexico (PPM) program did not particularly impact Cuban immigrants over the last year, the measure removes another potential obstacle to the entry of nationals from Cuba.
The influx of Cubans in July indicates that the strategy to control access through the Mexican Strip and the Rio Grande, and the reinforcement of controls and raids on the route through Central America and Mexico, have had limited results so far.
Since last May, irregular entries of Cubans have been reduced by 43.9%, after registering an increase of 35,092 in April.
The situation is creating serious social care problems in South Florida, main destination for newcomers, with difficulties in providing basic services and housing through the state Department of Children and Families.
The prosecuted Cubans receive cash assistance of $180 dollars per month for a semester, $250 dollars in food stamps (up to a year) and medical care (Medicaid), also for a year.
To the entries by land, another route overwhelmed by Cuban immigrants must be added: the avalanche by sea.
The interceptions of Cubans in the Straits of Florida have already escalated to 4,030 during the current fiscal year, a figure that is independent of the arrests made by the Border Patrol in the same period.
Last weekend alone, border agents captured 187 Cubans, who currently face a possible repatriation process.
A Border Patrol officer told CyberCuba that in recent weeks there has been "a significant increase" in Cuban arrivals on the coasts of Florida, which has required an additional effort by the authorities assigned to the Miami sector.
The update of the figures of irregular Cuban immigration to the United States based on the statistics released this Tuesday by the DHS/CBP, also shows that:
- 397 They entered through checkpoints in Buffalo, Boston, Seattle and Vermont.
- 28 They entered through the border with Canada.
- 109 They were expelled under Title 42, citing pandemic restrictions.
- 170,473 They entered after the opening of the Cuban borders and the lifting of visas, decreed by the Nicaraguan government on November 22.
In general, the number of entries from all nationalities climbed to 2,242,413, an increase that already exceeds by 32% those recorded in the entire previous fiscal year (1.9 million).
Cuba continues to occupy fourth place among the countries with the most immigrants arriving at the southern border during fiscal year 2022, after Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras.
NATIONALITIES WITH HIGHEST IRREGULAR INCOME FROM US BORDER POINTS DURING FY2022
Mexico - 695,910
Guatemala - 201,684
Honduras - 184,004
Cuba - 177,848
Nicaragua - 134,515
Venezuela - 130,032
Colombia - 102,473
El Salvador - 84,770
Ukraine - 64,348
Source: DHS/CBP
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