Misperception of U.S.-Cuba Policy Shift Among Cuban Migrants Threatens Tragedy

Misperception of U.S.-Cuba Policy Shift Among Cuban Migrants Threatens
Tragedy
by Guest Blogger for Janine Davidson
January 14, 2015

In the first five days of 2015, a total of ninety-six Cuban migrants
were interdicted at sea during seven events in the Florida Straits. All
seven interdictions involved dangerous conditions that included
unseaworthy, homemade vessels that posed significant risk to the
migrants attempting to make the perilous, ninety-mile journey across the
open ocean of the Florida Straits. In the month of December, a total of
481 Cuban migrants were either interdicted at sea or landed in the
United States during thirty-seven total events. These activities
represent a 117 percent increase from December 2013, with a distinct
spike in migrants following the President's announcement on December 17
that U.S-Cuba policy changes were forthcoming.

Intercepted Cuban migrants report that Cuban authorities have told them
the current "wet foot, dry foot" immigration policy will be ending on
January 15. This policy stipulates that Cuban migrants stopped prior to
landing on U.S. soil are to be returned to Cuba, while Cuban migrants
who successfully reach dry land in the United States are to be provided
a path to legal residency and eventual U.S. citizenship.

Coast Guard officials believe that Cuban boat builders and other illicit
actors who support and profit off the Cuban migrants are perpetuating
rumors that the "wet foot, dry foot" policy is ending in order to
increase their profit margins. Although actual U.S. policy changes
regarding Cuba have not yet been announced or implemented, there is a
perception in Cuba that such changes are imminent.

In response to this surge in illegal and dangerous migration attempts,
the Coast Guard has increased patrols in the Florida Straits over the
last three weeks while continuing to aggressively patrol the Caribbean
and Gulf of Mexico. Coast Guard leaders are also trying to send a clear
message that the perceptions of an imminent change to the "wet foot, dry
foot" policy are premature.

"The Administration's recent announcement regarding Cuba does not affect
immigration policies including 'wet foot, dry foot' or the Cuban
Adjustment Act—which only Congress can change," said Rear Admiral Jake
Korn, Coast Guard 7th District Commander in Miami. "The Coast Guard is
aggressively maintaining a presence in the region and discourages these
dangerous and deadly voyages. Individuals must have a visa or other
permission to travel to the States and anyone located at sea will be
returned to Cuba in accordance with immigration laws," he said.

Lessons Learned from the Southwest Border

The scenario that is playing out in Cuba and Southern Florida is not
new. The State Department, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and
the Coast Guard, as well as other components of DHS including Customs
and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services, have repeatedly addressed similar situations involving Cuban
and Haitian migrants in the past. Although much smaller in scale and
duration, the current situation is also very similar to another scenario
that played for several months this past summer when a sudden political
announcement accompanied by rumors of forthcoming immigration policy
changes resulted in a sharp increase in the number of unaccompanied
children and adults with children attempting to cross our southwest
border illegally.

In response to the surge in Central American migrants attempting to gain
entry to the United States, DHS participated in a government-wide
response that drew upon resources from within DHS component agencies, as
well as Health and Human Services, Defense, Justice and State. This
summer's effective response to the illicit migration at the southwest
border was made possible by robust diplomatic outreach, coordinated
strategic communications, and an aggressive and sustained surge in
people, assets, equipment and resources to the border areas to properly
address the significant increase in migrants, and overcome the false
messaging associated with the surge.

The Way Forward—Communications and a Coordinated Response

Although still relatively low in numbers, the spike in illegal Cuban
migrants should be addressed in a similar fashion as the events on the
southwest border. The United States must coordinate diplomatic outreach,
develop a coordinated communications plan and maintain a robust security
presence in Southern Florida to prevent and respond to continued illegal
migration.

As diplomatic relations are reestablished and migration talks kick off
later this month, a clear message backed by a sustained response to the
Cuban migrant surge is needed to promote safety and security on the
water and in South Florida. Strategic communications will be more
challenging as diplomatic relations develop in Cuba, but messaging will
be critical to overcome the current misperceptions on the ground in Cuba.

As the lead department for border security, DHS leadership and component
agencies, led by front line Coast Guard and CBP aircraft and ships, must
respond in a coordinated and well-rehearsed fashion for the duration of
the current flow of illegal Cuban migrants, while simultaneously
transmitting a clear policy message.

Lastly, as lawmakers plan hearings and deliberations proceed to further
define changes to immigration laws, Congress should ensure uninterrupted
support and funding for all departments—including DHS and component
agencies—as U.S.-Cuban relations continue to evolve in the months ahead.
Changing U.S. immigration policy is complex endeavor. Cuban migrants are
currently risking their lives in homemade vessels on a death-defying
journey based on rumors and misperceptions. U.S. policy and politics
must be tightly aligned in order to avoid preventable human tragedy.

Captain Pat DeQuattro, U.S. Coast Guard, is a 2014-2015 military fellow
at the Council on Foreign Relations. He served most recently as
executive director the deputy commandant for mission support, where he
was responsible for all facets of support for Coast Guard human capital,
engineering, acquisitions, and information technology programs.
DeQuattro previously commanded Coast Guard Sector Key West, Florida; his
operational deployments include drug interdiction in the waters off
Central and South America and command of the cutter Sanibel. DeQuattro
served as military aide to presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
He is a graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and the University of
Illinois as well as numerous professional military education programs.

Source: Defense in Depth » Misperception of U.S.-Cuba Policy Shift Among
Cuban Migrants Threatens Tragedy -
http://blogs.cfr.org/davidson/2015/01/14/misperception-of-u-s-cuba-policy-shift-among-cuban-migrants-threatens-tragedy/