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"It's like pouring a bucket of cold, dirty water over you", says Lianet Llanes, a Cuban mother living in the United States who has been waiting for three years to reunite with her 10-year-old daughter.
The hope that had kept alive crumbled this Monday, following the enactment of the new Presidential Proclamation signed by Donald Trump, which suspends family reunification processes for Cubans applied for by legal permanent residents, reported Telemundo 51.
The executive order, signed last Wednesday, June 4, is part of a new “travel ban” affecting citizens from 19 countries, including Cuba. In the case of Cuba, the restriction is partial, but its consequences are profound. Tourist, business, study, and exchange visas are suspended, as well as immigration procedures for thousands of Cuban families waiting.
Reunions that keep being postponed
Lianet received approval for her daughter's case on May 23. The only thing left was the consular interview. “She is a very active girl, but ever since we broke the news to her, she stopped playing, started studying English, and began asking us about schools,” she recounts. “Two days ago, we had to tell her that something is going wrong... and since then, she doesn't want to talk to anyone.”
Like her, thousands of Cubans are now facing a migration paralysis, amid a process that has been lengthy, costly, and emotionally draining.
The proclamation signed by Trump suspends the issuance of new visas to Cubans in categories B-1 (business), B-2 (tourism), F (study), M (technical training), and J (cultural exchange). Additionally, it halts immigration processes in family categories that do not qualify as "immediate family" of U.S. citizens
- Single children over 21 years old
- Married children of any age
- Brothers of citizens
The only exceptions provided are for parents, spouses, and minor children of U.S. citizens, as well as permanent residents with an already issued green card.
Furthermore, despite the severity of the measure, the Department of State clarified, through a diplomatic cable signed by Secretary Marco Rubio and obtained by The Associated Press, that visas issued prior to June 9 will not be revoked. Holders of valid visas can enter the U.S., although final admission remains at the discretion of the Department of Homeland Security.
A migratory limbo that revives old traumas
According to legal experts, the tightening of measures is justified by the lack of cooperation from Cuba regarding repatriations and consular security, as well as its inclusion in the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
However, the real effects are felt on a human level, where families are separated, children are emotionally affected, and parents now have to wait more years to reunite with their children.
The lawyer Armando Olmedo, cited by Univision, explained that even those who already have an approved visa could face consular obstacles or denials, especially if they have had employment ties with the Cuban government or political affiliations, even in the absence of conclusive evidence.
From the blog Café Fuerte to Martí Noticias, the media has warned that this is the biggest obstacle to legal Cuban migration in four decades. The State Department clarified that entry into the country, even with a valid visa, is not 100% guaranteed, and that immigration officers at entry points will have greater discretion to accept or deny entry.
Cubans are advised:
- Verify the validity of your visas
- Do not remain out of legal status
- Consult with lawyers if they have pending cases
- Request formal extensions if already in the U.S.
Meanwhile, the consulates could adopt stricter interpretations of the regulations, which would further delay the processes for family members requested by residents.
A right that becomes a privilege
“Today I speak for all those parents who are residents. In two years, I will become a citizen, but that's two more years of suffering waiting for my daughter to arrive,” Llanes stated to Telemundo 51.
For her and for many, family reunification is not a bureaucratic procedure, but a promise of life that is once again left in limbo.
The measure not only halts flights. It halts hugs, first words, shared games, and lost years of childhood. And for many Cubans, the American dream now has more walls than bridges.
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