The U.S. Embassy in Havana issued an official alert this Wednesday announcing the closure of its in-person services for U.S. citizens starting at 11:00 a.m., due to a demonstration scheduled for the afternoon in the square in front of its location, the José Martí Anti-Imperialist Tribune, on the Havana Malecón.
The alert warns of increased police presence, traffic detours, and disruptions to transit around the diplomatic mission.
The document advises American citizens in Cuba to "avoid demonstrations and crowds, maintain a low profile, stay alert to their surroundings, and follow local media for updates."
Those needing consular assistance can contact the phone number +(53) 7 839-4100 —after hours, by dialing 1 and then 0— or write to the email ACSHavana@state.gov.
The alert does not explicitly mention visa interviews or other consular services apart from assistance to American citizens, so it is not possible to confirm whether those processes are also suspended.
The announcement comes at the worst time for relations between Cuba and the United States so far in 2026. On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla moved physically toward the podium of the UN General Assembly while US Ambassador Michael Waltz was speaking, prompting the session president to briefly suspend it.
A member of the Cuban mission, Richard Tur de la Concepción, attempted to snatch the phone from Waltz's spokesperson while recording the incident; Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed his expulsion, and the diplomat was sent back to Havana in less than 24 hours.
This Wednesday, the General Assembly approved the annual resolution against the embargo with only 130 votes in favor, 17 against, and 25 abstentions — the most unfavorable result for the Cuban regime since these votes began in 1992 — compared to 187 votes in 2024 and 165 in 2025.
Miguel Díaz-Canel responded on the social network X with the message "Cuba will not go backward, especially in the face of Yankee pressures and orders," congratulating the Cuban delegation for their performance in New York.
The mobilization towards the Antimperialist Tribune follows the usual pattern of the regime, which uses that open space for anti-American gatherings during times of diplomatic tension or internal pressure. The most recent precedent was on May 22, when the regime called upon military personnel, police, and state workers to that same location in response to the federal charges filed in Miami against Raúl Castro. On that occasion, an internal document from the Havana Electric Company mandated the forced mobilization of 971 workers distributed in quotas among 41 business units, with transportation provided starting at 5:00 a.m.
For Cuban-Americans and U.S. citizens with pending processes, the suspension of services adds to an already complicated situation: Presidential Proclamation 10998, effective since January 1, 2026, maintains the suspension of visa issuance for B-1, B-2, F, M, J, and immigrant visas for Cuban nationals, with exceptions for permanent residents, holders of valid visas prior to that date, and citizens with dual nationality.
The Embassy also issued a similar alert on May 21 regarding the gathering that day, confirming that this type of notification has become standard procedure whenever the regime mobilizes its supporters against the U.S. diplomatic mission.
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