The Wider Image: A Cuban fishing village ponders its options as U.S. policy shifts
A pelican swims beside fishing boats docked in Isabela de Sagua, Cuba, January 28, 2023. This far-flung peninsula - on Cuba's north-central coast just 130 miles (210 km) south of the Florida Keys - is poised to once again become a barometer for measuring the impact of U.S. immigration policy, say residents, who for decades have watched the ebb and flow of migrants from the town's sand- and mangrove-lined shores. The latest twist: A U.S. "parole" program announced in early January that allows up to 30,000 migrants from Cuba and some other countries to enter the United States each month provided they apply online, find a financial sponsor and pay airfare. "Everyone is talking about it," said Carlos Hernandez, a 49-year fisherman. He told Reuters the town was fast losing its population, fleeing the worst economic crisis to hit the country in decades. "People here are desperate to leave." REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MENEGHINI CUBA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.