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Mexico Will Deport Cubans

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The Associated Press

Published: October 21, 2008

MEXICO CITY - Mexico agreed Monday to deport Cubans who sneak illegally through Mexican territory to reach the United States, a step toward cutting off an increasingly violent and heavily used human trafficking route.

The agreement, signed by Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque and Mexican Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa, takes effect in one month.

It also criticized U.S. policy that generally allows Cubans who reach U.S. territory to stay, while turning back most caught at sea.
Cuban migrants in recent years have increasingly headed for Mexico - often to the coast near Cancun - then overland to Texas because it has become hard to dodge the U.S. Coast Guard and reach Florida to qualify for U.S. residency.

The Department of Homeland Security said 11,126 used the Mexico route last year, compared with just 1,055 who landed in the Miami area.

Before Monday, Mexico rarely sent back Cubans caught entering the country illegally.

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