Cuba seeks to strengthen ties with diaspora during UN General Assembly

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla has emphasized efforts to strengthen ties with Cuban expatriates during a meeting in New York held alongside the United Nations General Assembly. Speaking at the National Meeting of Cuban Residents in the United States, Rodríguez stated that the government is working to foster better integration for compatriots living abroad and their descendants.

This outreach coincides with new migration regulations, including Law 171 on Migration, Law 172 on Citizenship, and Law 173 on Foreigners, set to take effect in November. Notably, these laws remove the 24-month limit on living abroad that previously resulted in the loss of Cuban residency, replacing it with a residency status based on family, work, or economic ties. However, the human rights group Cubalex has criticized these changes, arguing they maintain discretionary government control over citizen mobility.

During his remarks, Rodríguez also criticized the U.S. embargo, describing it as a “collective punishment” and a “cruel crime” that impacts Cuban families.