A Cuban couple, deported to the island after living for six years in Malaysia under UN refugee status, has arrived in Monterrey, Mexico, following a migration journey through Central America. Richard Sarduy and Yenisber Cárdenas have been in the capital of Nuevo León since last Thursday after starting their journey in Nicaragua, crossing Honduras and Guatemala, reaching Tapachula in Chiapas, and continuing through Mexican territory to the north, according to a report by Martí Noticias.
The couple resided in Malaysia for six years with refugee status granted by the United Nations, during which they worked as volunteer teachers in a refugee children's camp. However, on January 29, the Asian country's government ordered their deportation to Cuba after detaining them for two months.
"The Malaysian government decided to deport us. The officials from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) were surprised, but they couldn't do anything," Sarduy told Martí Noticias.
Upon arriving at Havana's José Martí International Airport, Cuban immigration authorities allowed them entry but gave them a fifteen-day deadline to leave the country, without the right to repatriation. The regime forced them to stay at relatives' homes under surveillance and not leave the house.
"An immigration officer, an older lady, advised us not to leave our relatives' house or meet with friends. She also suggested we report to the UNHCR office in Havana, which we did," Sarduy recounted.
"We stayed at my dad's house. The family was shocked," said Cárdenas. Nearly two months later, they managed to buy tickets to Nicaragua, which was their only option to start the journey that would take them to the Mexico-U.S. border.
During their journey to Mexico, the couple managed to avoid the common hardships faced by migrants, thanks to their UNHCR refugee documentation. In Tapachula, they had to make a mandatory stop for several days for Cárdenas to recover from foot injuries caused by long walks. They also faced several checkpoints on their way to Mexico City, but finally arrived in Monterrey without major issues.
The couple's final destination is Matamoros, in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, bordering Brownsville, Texas, Sarduy told the media.
They arrived in Mexico amid tightening immigration policies, following the Joe Biden administration's zero-tolerance stance on illegal border crossings, which could prevent them from obtaining political asylum in the U.S.
"If people cross the border illegally, they can be immediately sent back to Mexico because the number arriving exceeds the limit set in a recent presidential proclamation," said Miami-based immigration lawyer Alejandro Sánchez, interviewed by Martí Noticias.
In the case of Sarduy and Cárdenas, Sánchez noted that "they might qualify for an exception, but they could also be asked if they sought additional protection in any of the countries they transited through, and U.S. agents could then activate the asylum prohibition."
Understanding the Journey of Cuban Refugees
Given the complex circumstances surrounding the journey of Cuban refugees like Richard Sarduy and Yenisber Cárdenas, here are some frequently asked questions to provide more clarity.
Why were Richard Sarduy and Yenisber Cárdenas deported from Malaysia?
They were deported by the Malaysian government despite having UN refugee status, and the officials from UNHCR could not intervene to stop it.
How did they manage to travel from Cuba to Mexico?
They stayed with relatives in Cuba until they could buy tickets to Nicaragua, from where they started their journey through Central America to reach Mexico.
What challenges did they face during their journey?
They encountered foot injuries, checkpoints, and the need to make a mandatory stop in Tapachula, but managed to avoid major issues thanks to their UNHCR documentation.
What are the implications of U.S. immigration policies for them?
Due to the Biden administration's zero-tolerance policy on illegal border crossings, they might face challenges in obtaining political asylum in the U.S., though exceptions might apply.