Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05SANJOSE2410
2005-10-14 22:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy San Jose
Cable title:  

REFUGEE REFERRAL: XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX

Tags:  PHUM PREF CVIS CS CU 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN JOSE 002410 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR PRM/A (MESTETSKY)
DHS FOR DHS/BCIS (OFFICE OF ASYLUM, REFUGEES, AND
INTERNATIONAL OPS)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2015
TAGS: PHUM PREF CVIS CS CU
SUBJECT: REFUGEE REFERRAL: XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX

REF: A. 03 STATE 326248


B. STATE 223225

Classified By: CDA Russell L. Frisbie for reason 1.4 (b&d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN JOSE 002410

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR PRM/A (MESTETSKY)
DHS FOR DHS/BCIS (OFFICE OF ASYLUM, REFUGEES, AND
INTERNATIONAL OPS)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2015
TAGS: PHUM PREF CVIS CS CU
SUBJECT: REFUGEE REFERRAL: XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX

REF: A. 03 STATE 326248


B. STATE 223225

Classified By: CDA Russell L. Frisbie for reason 1.4 (b&d)


1. (C) Post wishes to refer Cuban national Dr. XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX
for consideration under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.
Bio data based on Dr. XXXXXXXXXXXX passport is as follows:

XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX, born in Granma, Cuba, on
XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX, XXXXXXXXXXXX. Passport number is XXXXXXXXXXXX, issued on XXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXX, XXXXXXXXXXXX and expiring on XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX, XXXXXXXXXXXX.


2. (C) Dr. XXXXXXXXXXXX participated in the Cuban Doctors Program
in Costa Rica for a little more than one year. Dr. XXXXXXXXXXXX
was issued a one-time Cuban exit permit (number XXXXXXXXXXXX),
valid for use between XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX, XXXXXXXXXXXX, to XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX, XXXXXXXXXXXX,
which allows him to remain outside Cuba for 365 days. On
XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX, 2004, the Costa Rican Consulate in Havana issued
Dr. XXXXXXXXXXXX a visa and he departed Cuba on XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX, 2004.
The Costa Rican Foreign Ministry has since granted two
six-month extensions to the original visa, which expired on
XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX, 2005.


3. (C) Dr. XXXXXXXXXXXX contacted us indirectly in early May, 2005
via email through his wife's brother-in-law, who works for
the CDC in Atlanta. U.S. Interest Section Havana verified
that Dr. XXXXXXXXXXXX family had been approved for resettlement
(Case XXXXXXXXXXXX) with the wife (XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX) as the
principal applicant.


4. (C) PolOff and ConOff met with Dr. XXXXXXXXXXXX at the Embassy
on August 26, 2005, after he had refused an order to return
to Cuba and had gone into hiding. Dr. XXXXXXXXXXXX informed us
that he had earlier approached the Cuban Consulate in San
Jose to inquire about legal documents necessary to obtain
exit permission for his daughter from Cuba so that she and
his wife could depart for the U.S. as approved refugees. The
Cuban Consul originally told him there would be no problem
with obtaining the documents then, without explanation, Dr.
XXXXXXXXXXXX was ordered to return to Cuba more than a month ahead
of his peers. Dr. XXXXXXXXXXXX believes that the order to return
is a result of his family's desire to participate in the U.S.
Refugee Program and his own effort to secure exit permission
for his daughter while remaining abroad himself. Since going
into hiding, Dr. XXXXXXXXXXXX has had no direct contact with his
wife, but has heard through relatives that she has been
questioned by the police several times since he failed to
return. Dr. XXXXXXXXXXXX believes that as a result of his wife's
application and his own refusal to return that he would face
persecution, should he return to Cuba, including loss of
employment and possible arrest.


5. (C) At the end of the interview, Post provided Dr. XXXXXXXXXXXX
with names and contact information at the UNHCR offices in
San Jose. In a follow-up conversation with UNHCR officials
we learned that Dr. XXXXXXXXXXXX was directed to apply with Costa
Rican Immigration for an extension of his legal status in
Costa Rica which was nearing expiration.


6. (C) In subsequent communication with the Refugee Unit at
the U.S. Interest Section in Havana and PRM/Admissions, Post
was informed that while Dr. XXXXXXXXXXXX wife is approved for
resettlement, Dr. XXXXXXXXXXXX himself is only eligible if he were
to travel after his wife's admission as a refugee to the U.S.
However, the wife and daughter are unable to travel without
exit permits from the Cuban Government. Dr. XXXXXXXXXXXX
understands that there is no guarantee his wife and child
will ever be granted exit permission, and that he may be
permanently separated from his family unless he returns to
Cuba, which he does not wish to do, due to his fear of
persecution and imprisonment. Therefore, Post requests that
Dr. XXXXXXXXXXXX case be considered as a P-1 referral for the
U.S. Refugee Program.
FRISBIE