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Two Cuban migrants escaped last Friday from a detention center located on Fairbanks Road in George Town, Cayman Islands, as confirmed by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS).
According to a spokesperson for the police press unit, the escape occurred recently and operations have already begun to locate them. "At this time, we do not believe they are dangerous. Efforts are being made to find them, and more information will be shared," the authority stated, as reported by the local media Cayman Compass.
The report indicates that, generally, migrants arrive on the island with little money, although it is not ruled out that Cubans who have fled may have had prior contacts in the territory. Authorities reminded residents that it is a crime to provide shelter or assist immigrants in irregular situations.
Cayman Compass also indicated that it requested the RCIPS to release images taken during the identification process of the migrants, as well as details regarding possible additional security measures around the detention center, although it has not yet been reported whether the police will comply with that request.
So far, Cayman Compass is the only media outlet from the Cayman Islands that has reported the incident.
This incident occurs in a context of growing attention to the immigration situation in the Cayman Islands. Authorities in the British overseas territory have begun to design contingency plans in light of the possibility of a new wave of irregular migration from Cuba, amidst regional tensions and economic changes that could worsen the situation on the island, as confirmed by Governor Jane Owen and other high-ranking officials in January 2026.
Concern has intensified following recent regional events that could directly impact the Cuban economy, which, according to local authorities, may drive more people to attempt to reach nearby destinations such as the Cayman Islands by sea. In this context, a specialized committee is working with security agencies to anticipate and respond to a potential increase in migrants, including intelligence coordination with regional partners.
It is not the first time an attempt has been recorded for Cubans detained at the Fairbanks center. In 2025, a woman residing in Bodden Town was accused of helping at least seven Cuban migrants escape from the same detention center, providing transportation, temporary housing, and assistance to evade recapture by the authorities, according to reports from that time.
Cayman authorities have tightened their immigration regulations. In 2024, the government introduced a mandatory transit visa requirement for Cuban citizens in an attempt to curb the use of the territory as an alternative route to other destinations, including the United States and Central American countries.
In recent months, there have also been reports of the deportation of Cubans from the Cayman Islands. In March 2025, a flight from the archipelago arrived in Havana with 11 deported Cubans, as reported by the Ministry of the Interior (MININT).
The police have not yet disclosed the identity of the escaped migrants or details about how they managed to flee.
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