Panama’s Cardinal José Luis Lacunza, Bishop of the Diocese of David, has called on the Government to come up with solutions for Cubans who have been stranded there since January this year, writes Martha Pskowski.
That is when then President Barack Obama, in one of his last acts in office, ended the so-called “wet foot, dry foot” policy, which had allowed Cuban refugees to enter the US by land or sea and become residents. Thousands were already en route to the US borders when the policy was withdrawn, and Panama is one of several countries that unexpectedly became host to the Cuban refugees.
After reaching the mainland, thousands of Cubans travelled north by land during 2015 and 2016 and when the policy ended became stranded in Panama. Caritas opened a shelter in Panama City, but the Panamanian Government moved people to a shelter in the town of Los Planes, which is guarded by immigration agents. It is now pressuring refugees to accept “voluntary” deportation to Cuba.
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