NICARAGUA: CARIBBEAN MASS MIGRATION CONTINGENCY

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAGUA 000080 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CEN AND PRM E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF PHUM NU SUBJECT: NICARAGUA: CARIBBEAN MASS MIGRATION CONTINGENCY ASSESSMENT REF: 06 MANAGUA 1114 Classified By: Ambassador Paul Trivelli for reason 1.4(d) ¶1. (C) Although the Nicaraguan government (GON) has in the past expressed a willingness to assist with limited refugee resettlement (reftel),post believes that because of ideological and public relations considerations, the recently installed Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) government of President Daniel Ortega would have no interest in considering such cooperation. The FSLN is close to the Cuban regime. Further, previous administrations were wary of admitting non-Hispanic populations (such as Haitians) and also concerned about the optics of assisting refugees in the second poorest country in the hemisphere. The Ortega government would likely have the same reservations. ¶2. (C) The following responses are keyed to questions posed in reftel: a. It is extremely unlikely that the GON would be willing to build a camp for migrants. b. See above response. c. It is unlikely that they would consider migrants from any country. In the past, the GON was willing to consider taking small numbers of Cubans, who are culturally and linguistically familiar, but the new left-wing administration would almost certainly refuse. d. This stance would not likely change in a post-Fidel environment. e. The timing is not ideal to approach the Ortega administration regarding accepting migrants, a request they would in all probability refuse. f. N/A g. N/A h. N/A TRIVELLI