As Cayman puts preparations in place for a potential influx of Cuban migrants, a boat carrying 10 individuals managed to come ashore in very rough seas late on Saturday 31 Jan. on Little Cayman, authorities have confirmed.
The Customs and Border Control Service, in a statement issued on Monday morning, said the 10 adult male migrants arrived around 11pm along the North Coast Road area.
“CBC officers, supported by partner agencies, responded in accordance with established operational and security protocols. The individuals have been secured and are currently being processed in line with Cayman Islands law and international obligations,” the agency said in the statement.
It added, ”CBC, along with other key Cayman Islands Government stakeholders, continues to closely monitor regional developments that may contribute to irregular migratory movements towards the Cayman Islands.”
The Cuban immigrants were transferred to the immigration detention centre on Grand Cayman on Monday morning, 2 Feb.
According to a CBC spokesperson, the last time a Cuban boat had arrived in Cayman was in December last year. He also confirmed that prior to the arrival of the boat in Little Cayman on Saturday, there were 16 migrants in the Cayman Islands.
Last month, in comments made on separate occasions, Governor Jane Owen, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson and Commissioner of Police Kurt Walton, confirmed that the multi-agency Mass Migration Committee, set up several years ago to address what is known as “irregular migration” into Cayman, had reassembled and held a meeting last month to discuss contingency plans if there is an influx in the arrival of Cubans into Cayman.
Concerns over a potential influx have risen, following the US incursion into Venezuela early last month to extract the country’s former president Nicolás Maduro, as the South American country had been a main supplier of oil and financial aid to Cuba.
“The Cayman Islands Government takes the security of our borders extremely seriously,” said Nickolas DaCosta, minister of home affairs in Monday’s statement. “I want to reassure the public that this incident was handled promptly and professionally by the CBC, working closely with partner agencies.
“Our systems remain active and effective, and we continue to closely monitor regional developments while ensuring that all actions taken are lawful, measured, and consistent with our international obligations. There is no cause for public concern, and we will continue to keep the community informed through official channels.”
Cubans have been arriving into Cayman waters by boat for decades, in fluctuating numbers. The largest influx was seen in 1994, when nearly 1,200 migrants arrived in Cayman over a few weeks, as part of a mass exodus during the so-called ‘Balsero crisis’.
The most recent influx was seen in 2022, and by January the following year, there were 385 Cubans in Cayman seeking asylum.
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