From the Department of State
On Friday, June 18, 2010, the United States and Cuba met in Washington, D.C. to discuss the implementation of the
U.S.-Cuba Migration Accords. This was the third such meeting since the decision to resume the Cuba Migration Talks
in 2009. In the course of the meeting, the U.S. team, led by Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western
Hemisphere Affairs Craig Kelly, reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to promote safe, legal, and orderly migration. The
Cuban delegation was led by Vice Foreign Minister Dagoberto Rodriguez Barrera.
The U.S. delegation separately raised the case of Alan Gross, the U.S. citizen detained in Cuba since December 4,
2009, and called for his immediate release.
Engaging in these talks underscores our interest in pursuing constructive discussions with the Government of Cuba to
advance U.S. interests. The U.S. delegation highlighted areas of successful cooperation in migration, while also
identifying issues that have been obstacles to the full implementation of the Accords. The agenda for the talks reflected
longstanding U.S. priorities on Cuba migration issues, including: ensuring that the U.S. Interests Section in Havana is
able to operate fully and effectively; ensuring that the U.S. Interests Section in Havana is able to monitor the welfare of
repatriated migrants; and gaining Cuban Government acceptance for the repatriation of Cuban nationals who are
subject to removal from the United States on criminal grounds.