US embassy cable - 04TEGUCIGALPA2393

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 002393 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA DAS FISK, WHA/CCA, AND WHA/CEN 
STATE FOR PRM, PRM/ENA, PRM/ECA, AND PRM/PRP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2014 
TAGS: PREF, PREL, SMIG, MARR, CU, HO 
SUBJECT: DETAILS OF RESETTLEMENT OF PROTECTED CUBAN 
MIGRANTS FROM GUANTANAMO TO HONDURAS STILL TBD 
 
REF: A. STATE 228229 
 
     B. MANDOJANA/PALMER E-MAIL 10/21/04 
     C. GEHRING/OLSEN E-MAILS/TELCONS/FAXES 10/15/04 AND 
        10/20-21/04 
     D. TEGUCIGALPA 2297 
     E. POPE/OLSEN E-MAILS/TELCONS/FAXES 10/8/04 AND 
        10/12/04 
     F. STATE 216668 
     G. TEGUCIGALPA 1524 
     H. STATE 139422 
 
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Roger Pierce; 
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Summary:  Post continues to work closely with the 
Honduran Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning the proposed 
resettlement of 20 protected Cuban migrants in Guantanamo to 
Honduras.  While the GOH has repeatedly said yes to the 
resettlement in general, the details of the resettlement, 
including exact numbers and immigration status/work 
authorization upon arrival in Honduras, remain to be 
determined.  End Summary. 
 
2. (C) Acting PolCouns on October 20 raised the USG's 
concerns on immigration status/work authorization (ref C) 
with MFA DG for Foreign Policy AMB Mario Fortin and talked to 
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Representative 
Norberto Giron about the possible acceptance by Honduras of 
up to 20 GTMO Cubans.  Giron said that if the GOH accepted 
GTMO Cubans, IOM could help facilitate the immigration 
details as they had done with a previous group of GTMO Cubans 
that came to Honduras in 2001.  Acting PolCouns underlined to 
Fortin USG concerns about the immigration status the GTMO 
Cubans would be granted (especially U.S. concern over 
"economic refugee" vs. refugee/permanent residency status, 
and the importance of the GTMO Cubans having authorization to 
work).  Acting PolCouns suggested that the arrangement that 
was used for the 2001 group of GTMO Cubans be used again, 
since IOM had said it had been without problems and done with 
a low profile.  Fortin said he would relay these points to 
the FM. 
 
3. (C) DCM and Acting PolCouns met October 22 with Foreign 
Minister Leonidas Rosa Bautista to discuss several issues, 
including the GTMO Cubans.  DCM noted that the Embassy 
understood that during their October 22 meeting in Washington 
the Secretary had thanked Honduran President Ricardo Maduro 
for agreeing to take Cuban migrants from GTMO, and that 
Maduro had said he was happy to do so (ref B).  The FM said 
that he was awaiting Maduro's return to Honduras October 23 
before moving ahead on the details of resettling the GTMO 
Cubans.  Acting PolCouns underlined to the FM USG concerns 
about the immigration status the GTMO Cubans would be 
granted, noting that economic refugee status without work 
authorization was problematic, and suggesting that 
refugee/permanent residency status with work authorization 
would be far preferable (refs A and C). 
 
4. (C) Comment:  EmbOffs will continue to work with the FM 
and other MFA officials for clarification of the details on 
the proposed resettlement, including the exact number the GOH 
will accept and what immigration status/work authorization 
will be granted upon arrival in Honduras.  Post is guardedly 
optimistic that all outstanding issues will be resolved 
favorably.  End comment. 
Palmer