REFUGEE REFERRAL: XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX

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