Havana, January 2 (RHC)--The migratory measures announced by the Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla in Washington D.C. last October entered into force on Monday.

The four measures seek to further improve the island´s relations with Cubans residing abroad. They include the elimination of the “validation” of passports, a requirement that Cuban emigrants needed to travel to the island.

From now on, Cubans living abroad will also be authorized to enter and leave the country on board pleasure boats, through the Hemingway Marina in Havana and the Gaviota-Varadero Tourists Marinas, in the famous beach resort in Matanzas province. This measure will gradually be extended to other marinas on the island.

Cuban citizens who left the country illegally, except those who did so through the illegally occupied territory of the US Naval Base in Guantanamo, will be allowed to enter the country.

The last measure authorizes the children born to Cubans residing abroad to obtain the Cuban citizenship and the respective identification document.

In announcing these new measures, the Cuban Foreign Minister said that the island will continue assessing new measures to update its migratory policies.

The new directives take effect at a time when the Trump Administration has adopted arbitrary measures, such as the closing of its consular operations in Havana and the suspension of issuance of visas, seriously affecting the relations of Cubans residing in the United States with their country of origin.