Cuba accuses U.S. of negligence in migrant trafficking networks

Cuban officials have accused the United States of negligence or complicity regarding migrant trafficking networks. Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío stated that Cuban delegations repeatedly warned U.S. authorities between 2022 and 2024 about human trafficking operations organized and financed from South Florida. He suggested that Washington's lack of action could be due to "negligence, complicity, political design, or a combination of these factors."

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez further denied allegations from the New York Times, calling them a "calumnious fabrication" intended to serve the U.S. government. Rodríguez emphasized that the Cuban government has no involvement in human trafficking operations in Central America or Mexico. He noted that during bilateral meetings involving U.S. State and Homeland Security officials, Cuba recommended investigations into these networks, but received no response.

According to Cuban officials, these trafficking networks charge between $7,000 and $15,000 per person. They pointed to the annual entry of over 100,000 Cubans through the U.S. southern border as evidence of the scale of the business.