- Title: Cubans demonstrate on U.S.-Mexico border to be allowed to cross into the U.S.
- Date: 9th April 2017
- Summary: NUEVO LAREDO, TAMAULIPAS, MEXICO (APRIL 8, 2017) (REUTERS) DEMONSTRATORS MARCHING WITH CUBAN AND AMERICAN FLAGS VARIOUS OF CUBANS DEMONSTRATING TO BE ALLOWED TO CROSS INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM MEXICO GENERAL VIEW OF BORDER AREA SIGN FOR BORDER CROSSING DOOR PEOPLE WALKING OUT FROM BORDER CROSSING AREA VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS WITH SIGNS AND CUBAN AND AMERICAN SIGNS SHOUTING "FREEDOM" IN SPANISH (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CUBAN MIGRANT, LOURDES DE LA TORRE, SAYING: "We're dying to get to our destination which is the United States, the land of freedom. We left Cuba in search of freedom; there's freedom in Mexico too, but we don't intend to stay here. We want to continue our journey to the United States, everyone who is here." GENERAL OF CUBAN DEMONSTRATION MORE OF DEMONSTRATION DIRECTOR OF THE TAMAULIPECO INSTITUTE FOR MIGRANTS, JOSE MARTIN CARMONA, AT HIS OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DIRECTOR OF THE TAMAULIPECO INSTITUTE FOR MIGRANTS, JOSE MARTIN CARMONA, SAYING: "The Cubans have easily integrated into society. They've been very respectful with the authorities. They've held rallies in one or two locations in the city. They pick up after themselves. They have their meetings without disrupting anything in Nuevo Laredo's squares. And at the end of the day they're waiting near the bridge and hoping that sooner or later, President Donald Trump will sign an executive action similar to that which was revoked that will allow them to go to the United States again." VARIOUS MORE OF DEMONSTRATION (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) NUEVO LAREDO RESIDENT, CARLOS GARNICA, SAYING: "They have their rights, but how can they all day and night come here and demand of the U.S. something that other people fight and fight and fight for, to get there (the United States), and they just want to hop over. I don't think that's fair either. These are educated people. They're not poor Cubans, they're educated." VARIOUS OF CUBANS GATHERED AT A CENTRAL SQUARE IN THE CITY THE RIO GRANDE RIVER AT THE BORDER BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO UNITED STATES FLAG ON U.S. SIDE OF THE BORDER BORDER PATROL CAR ON THE U.S. SIDE OF THE BORDER VARIOUS OF PEOPLE NEAR THE RIO GRANDE RIVER
- Embargoed: 23rd April 2017 01:17
- Keywords: Cuba Mexico United States Donald Trump demonstration wet foot dry foot
- Location: NUEVO LAREDO, TAMAULIPAS, MEXICO
- City: NUEVO LAREDO, TAMAULIPAS, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016BJGFAD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Scores of Cuban migrants stuck in Mexico as they try to make their way to the United States demonstrated in the border city of Nuevo Laredo on Saturday (April 8) to call on the United States to allow them to cross the Rio Grande and into Texas.
The demonstrators called for the U.S. to reinstate the so-called "wet foot, dry foot" policy that for a generation allowed Cubans who physically made it to the U.S. the ability to pursue residency.
That policy was ended by former U.S. President Barack Obama as part of his strategy to normalise relations with Cuba.
But now Cubans stranded on the Mexican side of the border say they are hoping President Donald Trump will take executive action to allow them to freely cross once again.
The Mexican Migration Institute has announced it will grant resident status to almost 600 Cubans living in the border city, but Cuban migrants say they still want to make it to the United States which has been their destination since they left the island.
Still, some Mexicans say it would not be fair to allow Cubans to hop the line and get preferential treatment. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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