Cubans are heartbroken, angry can’t seek U.S. visas in Havana

HAVANA, (Reuters) - Cubans said they were both heartbroken and enraged by the United States’ decision yesterday to stop processing visas at its embassy in Havana that would further tear at the seams of families already divided by the Florida Straits.

The United States said it was cutting its diplomatic presence in Cuba by more than a half because of mysterious “attacks” against its embassy personnel and was therefore halting regular visa operations.

“To think you can’t go see your family is a terrible thing,” said pensioner Xiomara Irene Louzado, 74, who had been planning a visit to the United States to see her sister and nephews.

Louzado said she also wanted to visit the graves of her sister and mother. She has traveled there regularly but now she simply no longer knew when she next could.

“This is unnecessary and inhuman,” said Laura Hernandez, a Cuban student who had been hoping to move to live with her father in the United States. “With so many families to reunify... why?”

While Cuba numbers a population of 11.2 million, there are an estimated 2 million Cuban Americans in the United States.

It remains unclear which visas the U.S. Havana embassy will still be processing and what other recourses Cubans will have.

“We have suspended most visa processing in Havana,” a notice on its website read. “Cuban applicants for non immigrant visas may apply at another U.S. embassy or consulate overseas.”

The United States has one specific deal with its former Cold War foe to issue 20,000 visas a year to Cubans seeking to emigrate there, agreed after the 1994 rafter exodus to prevent them from taking to the sea illegally in makeshift crafts.

Short of an effective third country workaround for those visa applications, Friday’s measure would likely ensure it violates that agreement, said Michael Bustamante, an assistant professor of Latin American history at Florida International University.