By Matt Spetalnick

WASHINGTON (Reuters] – American officials and Cuban officials plan to meet in Washington this Thursday, according to people who are familiar with the matter. It will be the most formal U.S. negotiations with Havana since the last presidential election.

Biden’s administration faces rising numbers of Mexican migrants trying to enter the U.S. from Mexico. The meeting takes place at a time where many of these immigrants are coming into Biden’s office, including a greater number of Cubans.

Washington’s tensions with Havana about the Cuban government’s crackdown against protests and the ongoing American sanctions on Cuba, as well as other issues make it hard for both countries to work together on problems such irregular migration.

Two sources claimed that the Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio will lead the delegation. It is anticipated that the delegation will meet with high-ranking officials from U.S. State Department as well as other agencies.

A U.S. official said that the United States wanted Cuba to deport more Cubans among record-breaking numbers of Cubans crossing the border to Mexico. Another source also spoke on condition of anonymity.

Cuba said that it supported legal, safe and orderly migration. Cuba blames the United States, accusing them of causing the increase in irregular migration. Cold War-era US sanctions as well as a decision closing the American consular section at Havana encouraged Cubans towards seeking out more dangerous routes.

Although the State Department stated last month that they would resume processing Cuban visas for Cubans in Havana, to begin reducing the backlog following a four year hiatus it has made slow progress.

‘SIGNIFICANT INCREASE’

A spokesperson for the State Department stated that there has been a marked increase in illegal Cuban migrants arriving to America via maritime and land routes. According to the State Department spokesperson, “Cubans are currently the 2nd-largest group of migrants arriving at the United States southwest border.”

Unnamed spokesperson declined to confirm that the meeting was planned but stated “we regularly interact with Cuban officials regarding issues of significance to the U.S. Government, such as migration and human rights.”

Talks scheduled for Thursday seem to have a higher level of formal contact than previously known.

Questions for comment were not answered by the Cuban government immediately.

These talks will be held one day after U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken, along with regional counterparts, wrap up the conference in Panama on migration. Cuba will not be attending that conference.

In Biden’s first year as president, an unprecedented number of immigrants tried to cross the U.S.–Mexican border. American officials anticipate even more migrants this year.

After Nicaragua relaxed visa requirements in November for Cubans, people fled Cuba’s economic woes and flew for Managua with the hope of joining the “migrant highway north” through Central America, the United States.

Nicaragua is close to Cuba and a strong regional ally. The move was designed to increase commercial exchange, tourism, humanitarian relations, as well family relationships.

The initial enthusiasm has turned to frustration after the United States launched a regional initiative to reduce border crossings.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection data shows that the February total of Cubans arrested at the U.S.-Mexican frontier reached 16,531 – the most ever single month. From 600 Cubans on February 26, to 1300 on April 16, the seven-day average was 1,300 according to U.S. internal statistics.

Biden Administration officials know that any loosening of Cuban restrictions could cause political problems for conservative Cuban Americans who are a crucial voting bloc in South Florida.

Donald Trump was the ex-President of the United States. He reversed an historic agreement that Barack Obama had overseen between America and Cold War foes.

Biden served as Obama’s vice president. During the 2020 U.S. presidential campaign, he promised that he would re-engage Cuba. This was despite Trump’s restrictions. Biden instead placed new sanctions on Cuban officials to retaliate for Havana’s brutal crackdown against protesters who marched on the island in July.

Tens of thousands of Cuban citizens marched through cities protesting the shortage of essential goods, restrictions on civil liberties, and poor handling of COVID-19 by the authorities. Many demanded political change.