Despite their historically tense relationship, the Biden administration has been under pressure to open more legal pathways for Cubans and begin a dialogue with the Cuban government in light of the largest migratory flight in decades.
Wednesday marks the first time the American Embassy in Havana has resumed visa and consular services since the American presence there was reduced in 2017 as a result of a string of unidentified health issues affecting diplomatic staff.

This week, the Embassy confirmed that it will begin processing immigrant visas, with the diversity visa lottery and permits to reunite Cubans with family in the US taking precedence.

Despite their historically tense relationship, the Biden administration has been under pressure to open more legal pathways for Cubans and begin a dialogue with the Cuban government in light of the largest migratory flight in decades.

Although they are expected to issue at least 20,000 visas annually, this is only a small portion of the island’s migratory tide, which is fueled by the island’s growing economic and political crises.

Late in December, US authorities reported that Cubans were stopped 34,675 times in November along the Mexico border, up 21% from 28,848 stops in October.

That number has gradually increased from month to month. According to data compiled by US Customs and Border Protection, Cubans now rank second in the number of nationals crossing the border after Mexicans.

Numerous factors, including political, energy, and economic crises, as well as widespread discontent among Cubans, are to blame for the growing migration.

While the vast majority of Cuban migrants arrive in the United States via flights to Nicaragua and land at the US-Mexico border, thousands more have made the perilous sea journey. They travel 90 miles to the coast of Florida, frequently arriving in rickety, shaky boats packed with migrants.

The US government is forced to deal with a growingly complicated situation on its southern border as the exodus from Cuba is exacerbated by rising migration from Haiti and Venezuela.

After a series of migration talks and US officials’ visits to Havana in recent months, the embassy’s renewal of visa work may also indicate a gradual thaw between the two governments.

In a statement released in November following the visit of an American delegation to Cuba, the US Embassy stated, “Engaging in these talks underscores our commitment to pursuing constructive discussions with the government of Cuba where appropriate to advance US interests.”

The minuscule steps are a far cry from the relationship under President Barack Obama, who, while in office, relaxed numerous sanctions imposed by the United States during the Cold War and paid a historic visit to the island in 2016.

In 2017, the island’s visa and consular services were shut down due to a series of health issues, including alleged sonic attacks that have not been fully explained.

As a result, before migrating or reuniting with family, many Cubans who wanted to legally migrate to the United States had to fly to places like Guyana.

Although relations between Cuba and the United States have always been tense, they became even more so after the Trump administration tightened sanctions against Cuba and closed the embassy.

Although the United States has eased some restrictions on things like remittances and family travel from Miami to Cuba, many Cubans still hope that a Biden administration will bring the island back to its “Obama era.”

The import and export of numerous goods as well as restrictions on tourist travel to Cuba remain in place.

The harsh treatment of those who participated in the island’s protests in 2021 by the Cuban government, including the imposition of hefty prison sentences on minors—an ongoing target of criticism from the Biden administration—has also stoked tensions.

Cuban officials have frequently expressed optimism regarding negotiations with the United States and actions to resume visa services. In November, Carlos Cossio, the deputy minister of Cuban foreign affairs, stated that the “mutual objective” of both nations is to ensure that legal and safe migration routes are available.

However, Cossio likewise accused the trip of many thousands from the island on US sanctions, saying that “there’s no question that a strategy intended to push down the expectations for everyday comforts of a populace is an immediate driver of movement.”