At least 20 Cuban migrants arrived in the Cayman Islands on Sunday, 17 of which were picked up and rescued by a cargo ship destined for Grand Cayman after a distress call.
Sixteen men and one woman disembarked the container ship Caribe Legend in the port of George Town on Sunday at 11:30am.
Another boat carrying three Cubans landed at around 6:45am the Spots Bay area of Cayman Brac.
The Ministry of Border Control said all will be processed in accordance with CBC’s established protocols.
The ministry said on Friday there were 286 “irregular migrants” in the islands – 75 on Cayman Brac and 211 on Grand Cayman, after another 19 Cubans had arrived at the end of last week.
All Cuban refugees have applied for asylum.
Only 14 have exhausted the application process and are awaiting repatriation to Cuba.
Given the large influx, government is struggling to find suitable housing and faces rising costs of caring for the migrants.
Currently they are housed in various accommodations in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac, while the Immigration Detention Centre is in need of repairs and upgrades.
All arriving migrants have the right to apply for asylum and to appeal if the application is denied.
Only once the process is completed can they be repatriated to Cuba, Minister for Border Control Chris Saunders said last week.
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