The Cuban government has once again targeted the United States, holding it responsible for the massive exodus of Cuban citizens. Simultaneously, it has criticized Washington's recent immigration policies aimed at deporting these migrants. During an interview on the state-run program "Mesa Redonda," Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío claimed that U.S. policies have driven Cubans to emigrate, only for them to now face the threat of expulsion.
Fernández de Cossío argued that the U.S.'s so-called "economic blockade," intended to lower living standards in Cuba, has compelled a segment of the population to seek better opportunities elsewhere. He further noted that Washington has historically extended a warm welcome to Cuban migrants, which he suggested has encouraged further emigration.
"Naturally, a policy like the economic blockade, crafted to undermine the quality of life for Cubans at home, leads some of them to seek a better life abroad," the senior official mentioned to state journalist Arleen Rodríguez Derivet. "When combined with the fact that the U.S. has traditionally embraced Cubans with a uniquely privileged reception, it's quite harsh for the same government that pushes them to emigrate and then welcomes them to now threaten them with deportation," Fernández de Cossío added.
With the characteristic cynicism of the so-called "revolutionary diplomacy," the Deputy Minister of the MINREX reiterated the regime's narrative, attributing emigration to external factors while overlooking internal causes that drive Cubans to leave their homeland. Political repression, lack of fundamental freedoms, widespread poverty, and the state's total control over the economy and daily life are significant factors pushing citizens to seek a better future outside Cuba. These internal conditions, more than external policies, are responsible for the mass exodus.
The regime's hypocrisy becomes evident as it blames the United States for provoking Cuban emigration while simultaneously criticizing U.S. measures to deport Cuban migrants. The regime's repeated narrative: "victims" of the blockade and the "cruel treatment" from the U.S.
In recent weeks, various voices from the Cuban government have insisted on holding the United States accountable for the massive exodus, labeling potential deportations planned by the Trump administration as "unjust" and "cruel." These statements are part of an official narrative that attempts to portray emigrants as victims of U.S. policies, deliberately ignoring the internal causes that push them to leave the island.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel recently claimed that Cubans facing deportation from the U.S. were "victims of deception" by that country, which he accused of encouraging them to emigrate and now wanting to send them back to Cuba. Days earlier, Fernández de Cossío addressed the potential increase in deportations and criticized U.S. laws that provide Cubans with a more accessible path to citizenship compared to other nationalities, which, according to him, serves as an additional incentive for emigration.
In another attack, Díaz-Canel publicly expressed "indignation" at the stance of Cuban-American Secretary of State Marco Rubio, accusing him of promoting policies that "undermine the well-being of Cubans in the United States." According to Díaz-Canel, "the U.S. government is solely responsible for the rise in Cuban migration."
A day prior, Díaz-Canel had also publicly rejected deportations, asserting that his government is prepared to welcome the returnees, despite these individuals leaving as a result of the "blockade." In mid-February, the regime repeated the same script: blaming Washington for the increase in emigration due to alleged coercive measures. Johana Ruth Tablada de la Torre, Deputy Director of the U.S. Division at MINREX, described it as an "incoherent and inhumane policy" spanning decades.
Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla also criticized the United States, accusing it of practicing "cruel cynicism" by attempting to deport individuals who were previously welcomed with open arms, according to his perspective. He also attacked Cuban-American politicians like Rubio, accusing them of promoting measures that impact thousands of Cuban migrants and profiting from political aggression toward the island.
These statements are part of a repetitive discourse attempting to divert attention from the genuine factors driving Cuban emigration: a deep economic crisis, political repression, chronic shortages of food, medicine, and essential services, the lack of freedoms, and the state's totalitarian control over citizens' lives. While the regime presents itself as a defender of migrant rights in the United States, it continues to limit opportunities for a decent life within the country, forcing its citizens to flee in search of a better future.
Key Questions on Cuban Migration and U.S. Policies
What reasons does the Cuban government provide for the mass emigration of its citizens?
The Cuban government blames the U.S.'s economic blockade and its historically welcoming stance towards Cuban migrants as primary factors driving the mass emigration.
What internal factors are responsible for the Cuban exodus, according to critics?
Critics argue that political repression, lack of fundamental freedoms, widespread poverty, and the state's total control over the economy and daily life are key internal factors driving the Cuban exodus.
How does the Cuban regime view the U.S. deportation plans?
The Cuban regime views the U.S. deportation plans as "unjust" and "cruel," portraying emigrants as victims of deceptive U.S. policies.