Cuban Leader Díaz-Canel Condemns U.S. Deportation Policies: "Migration is a Modern-Day Challenge"

Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel voiced strong disapproval on Monday regarding the United States' immigration policies, labeling the deportation of migrants as "violent and indiscriminate." He accused Washington of leveraging these actions as a "political pressure tool and blackmail" against Latin America.

Speaking at the XII Summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America - Peoples' Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) in Venezuela, Díaz-Canel argued that migration flows should not be viewed as a problem, but rather as a characteristic of our era. He attributed these movements to the "unjust prevailing economic order" that forces countless individuals to leave their homelands in search of better living conditions.

Even with Cuba enduring one of its most severe economic downturns, Díaz-Canel skirted around the subject of the mass exodus of Cubans in recent years. Instead, he pointed fingers at U.S. economic and trade policies, which he claims hinder the development of Latin American nations.

Díaz-Canel targeted the Trump administration, accusing it of fostering an "overtly anti-immigrant" stance. Among his primary criticisms, he cited the promotion of the border wall with Mexico, the implementation of the "zero tolerance" policy that led to the separation of thousands of migrant children from their families, and the restrictions placed on asylum applications. He also criticized the "Remain in Mexico" program, which forced asylum seekers to wait outside the U.S. while their cases were processed.

Moreover, he noted that the Republican administration drastically reduced the number of refugees admitted to historically low levels and attempted to dismantle the DACA program, which shields young undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children from deportation. Díaz-Canel contended that Trump's immigration strategy was rooted in "critical and discriminatory rhetoric against migrants," portraying them as a threat to U.S. security and economy.

The Cuban leader also condemned the establishment of a migrant detention center at the Guantánamo Bay Naval Base, describing it as a "barbaric act." He claimed that this facility aims to incarcerate tens of thousands of individuals, posing a "threat to the national security of Cuba and the region." He reminded the audience that the base hosts a "detention and torture center condemned by the international community."

Díaz-Canel emphasized that migrant deportations should occur within "bilateral or multilateral agreements," respecting each nation's sovereignty and avoiding interference in domestic affairs. He declared that his government seeks "orderly, safe, and regular migration, with respect for human rights," despite ongoing reports of repression and obstacles faced by those wishing to emigrate legally.

Additionally, he touted the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) as the legitimate forum for political coordination in the region and called for strengthening regional integration.

While Díaz-Canel blames the U.S. for the regional migration crisis, Cuba is experiencing an unprecedented exodus. In the past two years alone, over 500,000 Cubans have fled to the U.S., escaping economic collapse, repression, and a lack of opportunities on the island.

Despite his rhetoric on "orderly and regular migration," the Cuban regime has imposed restrictions on those attempting to leave the country legally, including withholding passports and denying exit permits to dissidents and activists.

While the Cuban government criticizes U.S. immigration policies, thousands of Cubans continue to risk their lives on perilous journeys to escape the island's crisis—an issue Díaz-Canel chose not to address in his remarks.