Ernesto Cobas Canelles, a 36-year-old Cuban, was intercepted by the State Security Unit Police in the Peruvian city of Chiclayo, the capital of Lambayeque in the northwest of the country. He was caught in a raid alongside 20 other irregular immigrants from Venezuela and Colombia. According to Chiclayo Ahora, all of them will be expelled from Peru.
The incident occurred on August 28, and the detained individuals have been identified and transported to the El Alamor border control post in Sullana province, Piura region, also in Peru.
The 21 immigrants were apprehended under what the Peruvian police call the "Special Exceptional Administrative Sanction Procedure (PASEE)," which involves determining the migrants' status for subsequent deportation. Last year, Cuban migrants in Peru had the chance to regularize their status in the South American country until November 10, when the deadline for the Temporary Stay Permit expired. Approximately 150,000 foreigners initiated this process to settle in Peru.
This Temporary Stay Permit regularized the status of those who entered Peru illegally before May 2023. Migrants who took advantage of this opportunity can work or start businesses formally, access financial services, obtain a driver's license, or validate their professional degrees in Peru.
A total of 1,931 Cubans applied for the Temporary Stay Permit (PTP) in Peru to regularize their immigration status, making them the third-largest group of applicants.
In December 2022, the governments of Cuba and Peru held the first round of migration talks of the year amidst the massive exodus from the island. Although Peru is not typically part of the migration route to the United States, many Cubans settle there and operate human smuggling networks that sometimes involve them.
In October 2022, the National Police of Peru dismantled a human trafficking network that smuggled immigrants from Cuba and other countries such as Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, India, Egypt, Pakistan, Cameroon, Ethiopia, and Kenya.
Details on Cuban Expulsion and Immigration Procedures in Peru
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding the recent expulsion of Cuban nationals from Peru and the related immigration procedures.
What is the Special Exceptional Administrative Sanction Procedure (PASEE)?
The PASEE is a procedure used by Peruvian authorities to determine the immigration status of foreigners for subsequent deportation.
How many Cubans applied for the Temporary Stay Permit in Peru?
A total of 1,931 Cubans applied for the Temporary Stay Permit to regularize their immigration status in Peru.
When did the Temporary Stay Permit regularization period end?
The regularization period for the Temporary Stay Permit ended on November 10 of the previous year.