Washington, DC - On July 14, the United States and Cuba reconvened for biannual Migration Talks in Havana, Cuba. Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs John Creamer and Director General for the U.S. Division of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs Josefina Vidal led their respective delegations to build upon the dialogue last held in December 2015.

U.S. and Cuban delegations reiterated the importance of the U.S.-Cuba Migration Accords, which provide for the safe, orderly, and legal migration of Cubans to the United States. The discussions included maritime and overland migration trends, cooperation between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Cuban physicians as well as cooperation between the U.S. Coast Guard and the Cuban Border Guard. The U.S. delegation restated its position that the Government of Cuba should accept the return of Cuban nationals who have been removed from the United States.

The next round of Migration Talks will be held in Washington, D.C., before the end of the year.