Number of Cubans emigrating to the U.S. rises again
Some believed that the latest figures meant a decline in the number of Cubans arriving in the United States, especially with Nicaragua as the point of departure, but the US Customs and Border Protection Department has just updated the information for the month of July… and it comes with surprises.
Last July, 20,496 Cubans were intercepted at the U.S.-Mexico border, according to data updated as of Monday, August 15.
The figure shows an increase compared to June, when about 4,000 fewer Cubans arrived.
The June statistics led many to believe that the migration wave was beginning to subside. However, the increase seen in July indicates that Cubans have not given up on making the dangerous journey through Central America in search of the “American dream”.
Already 177,848 Cubans have arrived at U.S. border crossings in the current fiscal year – counted since October 2021.
If we add those who have migrated to other destinations, such as Europe, the figure would be higher. We are talking about the largest migration in the history of the Cuban people.
July represents the fourth month with the highest number of Cuban arrivals to the United States so far this fiscal year. Only in March (25,000), April (30,000) and May (35,000) did more Cubans arrive at the southern border of the United States.
The worsening of the economic and social crisis on the island, expressed in the increase of blackouts in the interior of the country (which can last up to 12 continuous hours or 15 intermittent hours), has caused Cubans to see leaving the country as the only solution to their problems.
Flight prices to Nicaragua remain high and several airlines have reduced or cancelled flights between Havana and Managua altogether. However, Cubans are still looking for ways to get to the Central American country to travel north, a journey that can cost more than $10,000 per person.
The current wave has already been described as the largest Cuban migration wave in history and it is still unknown whether the figures for August and September will exceed the more than 20,000 emigrants in July. Everything seems to indicate that the flow will not stop in the short term if circumstances do not change drastically.
