- Title: Cuban migrants in Mexico turned away from US border
- Date: 26th January 2017
- Summary: NUEVO LAREDO, TAMAULIPAS, MEXICO (JANUARY 25, 2017) (REUTERS) BIG LETTERS ON SIDE OF ROAD THAT READ "NUEVO LAREDO" VARIOUS OF CUBAN MIGRANTS GATHERED NEAR BORDER PEOPLE AND CARS NEAR BORDER CUBAN MIGRANTS NEAR BORDER SIGN AT BORDER CROSSING CHECKPOINT BORDER CROSSING AREA VARIOUS OF CUBAN MIGRANTS GATHERED NEAR BORDER (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CUBAN MIGRANT, MANUEL GOMEZ, SAYING: "We weren't allowed to cross into America because of the change in the "wet food, dry foot" policy. We don't want the help of doctors, the aid that they have given us for food - take these things away." ROAD AT BORDER CROSSING VARIOUS OF BORDER CROSSING AREA VARIOUS OF CUBAN MIGRANTS GATHERED GENERAL VIEW OF AREA WHERE CUBAN MIGRANTS ARE GATHERED (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CUBAN MIGRANT, ALEJANDRO AVILA, SAYING: "We just want to be documented in the United States, to have permission to work and to have refuge in that country. That is the only thing that all of us Cubans are here for." PEOPLE SERVING FOOD TO CUBAN MIGRANTS VARIOUS OF CUBANS EATING VARIOUS OF CUBANS GATHERED GENERAL VIEW OF AREA WHERE CUBANS ARE GATHERED (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CUBAN MIGRANT, RAFAEL REYES, SAYING: "If the United States government does not let us cross then we stay here, we work and fight here, or in any other country that is outside of Cuba. It's better than Cuba." VARIOUS OF CUBAN MIGRANTS GATHERED CUBAN MIGRANT HOLDING A BABY CUBAN MIGRANTS GATHERED CUBAN SAYING THANK YOU TO THE UNITED STATES (NOT A SOUNDBITE) (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CUBAN MIGRANT, LAZARO REGALADO, SAYING: "It is what we all want and are dreaming of, that Trump can overturn this law and help those that are here. That is what we need, we have worked hard to be here, there are many children, many pregnant women and it is not easy to return to Cuba again. That is not what we want." VARIOUS OF CUBAN MIGRANTS GATHERED MEXICAN SOLDIERS DRIVING PAST GROUP OF CUBANS GATHERED
- Embargoed: 9th February 2017 15:52
- Keywords: Mexico United States Cuba migrants border
- Location: NUEVO LAREDO, TAMAULIPAS, MEXICO
- City: NUEVO LAREDO, TAMAULIPAS, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00160PY98J
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A group of Cuban migrants in northern Mexico trying to cross the border into the United States have been turned away by border officials after outgoing former president Barrack Obama repealed a measure granting automatic residency to Cubans arriving overland.
The end of the "wet foot, dry foot" policy, which allowed any Cuban who reached U.S. soil to stay but returned any picked up at sea, came into effect immediately after the repeal was announced earlier this month.
"We weren't allowed to cross into America because of the change in the "wet food, dry foot" policy". We don't want the help of doctors, the aid that they have given us for food - take these things away," said Cuban migrant, Manuel Gomez at the border crossing point in Mexico's Nuevo Laredo.
The shift had been in the works for months. It was announced abruptly because advance warning might have inspired thousands more people to take to the seas between the island and Florida in order to beat a deadline.
The United States and Cuba spent several months negotiating the change, including an agreement from Cuba to allow those turned away from the United States to return.
But many of those rejected have vowed not to go back, calling for US residency to be granted.
"We just want to be documented in the United States, to have permission to work and to have refuge in that country. That is the only thing that all of us Cubans are here for," said Cuban, Alejandro Avila.
Others say they will stay put in Mexico rather than return.
"If the United States government does not let us cross then we stay here, we work and fight here, or in any other country that is outside of Cuba. It's better than Cuba," added Cuban, Rafael Reyes.
New President Donald Trump has been critical of his predecessors overtures towards Havana to improve relations with the former Cold War foe.
For Cuban migrants in Mexico, they hope Trump's position on Cuba will convince him to reinstate the "wet foot, dry foot" provision.
"It is what we all want and are dreaming of, that Trump can overturn this law and help those that are here. That is what we need, we have worked hard to be here, there are many children, many pregnant women and it is not easy to return to Cuba again. That is not what we want," said Cuban migrant, Lazaro Regalado.
Until recently, virtually every Cuban who made it to U.S. soil was granted the right to stay in the country, the right to apply for work permits and, later, green cards, which convey lawful permanent residency. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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