DETAILS OF RESETTLEMENT OF PROTECTED CUBAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 002393

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA DAS FISK, WHA/CCA, AND WHA/CEN
STATE FOR PRM, PRM/ENA, PRM/ECA, AND PRM/PRP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2014
TAGS: PREF PREL SMIG MARR CU HO
SUBJECT: DETAILS OF RESETTLEMENT OF PROTECTED CUBAN
MIGRANTS FROM GUANTANAMO TO HONDURAS STILL TBD

REF: A. STATE 228229


B. MANDOJANA/PALMER E-MAIL 10/21/04

C. GEHRING/OLSEN E-MAILS/TELCONS/FAXES 10/15/04 AND
10/20-21/04

D. TEGUCIGALPA 2297

E. POPE/OLSEN E-MAILS/TELCONS/FAXES 10/8/04 AND
10/12/04

F. STATE 216668

G. TEGUCIGALPA 1524

H. STATE 139422

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Roger Pierce;
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Post continues to work closely with the
Honduran Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning the proposed
resettlement of 20 protected Cuban migrants in Guantanamo to
Honduras. While the GOH has repeatedly said yes to the
resettlement in general, the details of the resettlement,
including exact numbers and immigration status/work
authorization upon arrival in Honduras, remain to be
determined. End Summary.


2. (C) Acting PolCouns on October 20 raised the USG's
concerns on immigration status/work authorization (ref C)
with MFA DG for Foreign Policy AMB Mario Fortin and talked to
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Representative
Norberto Giron about the possible acceptance by Honduras of
up to 20 GTMO Cubans. Giron said that if the GOH accepted
GTMO Cubans, IOM could help facilitate the immigration
details as they had done with a previous group of GTMO Cubans
that came to Honduras in 2001. Acting PolCouns underlined to
Fortin USG concerns about the immigration status the GTMO
Cubans would be granted (especially U.S. concern over
"economic refugee" vs. refugee/permanent residency status,
and the importance of the GTMO Cubans having authorization to
work). Acting PolCouns suggested that the arrangement that
was used for the 2001 group of GTMO Cubans be used again,
since IOM had said it had been without problems and done with
a low profile. Fortin said he would relay these points to
the FM.


3. (C) DCM and Acting PolCouns met October 22 with Foreign
Minister Leonidas Rosa Bautista to discuss several issues,
including the GTMO Cubans. DCM noted that the Embassy
understood that during their October 22 meeting in Washington
the Secretary had thanked Honduran President Ricardo Maduro
for agreeing to take Cuban migrants from GTMO, and that
Maduro had said he was happy to do so (ref B). The FM said
that he was awaiting Maduro's return to Honduras October 23
before moving ahead on the details of resettling the GTMO
Cubans. Acting PolCouns underlined to the FM USG concerns
about the immigration status the GTMO Cubans would be
granted, noting that economic refugee status without work
authorization was problematic, and suggesting that
refugee/permanent residency status with work authorization
would be far preferable (refs A and C).


4. (C) Comment: EmbOffs will continue to work with the FM
and other MFA officials for clarification of the details on
the proposed resettlement, including the exact number the GOH
will accept and what immigration status/work authorization
will be granted upon arrival in Honduras. Post is guardedly
optimistic that all outstanding issues will be resolved
favorably. End comment.
Palmer