Havana, March 27 (RHC) –Despite the politicization by the United States of the issue of migration,  and the obstacles it imposes on Cuban travel, the island insists on supporting an orderly and safe flow of people.

The Cuban Foreign Ministry recently reiterated its commitment to respect individual and human rights in this regard.

Likewise, Cuban officials warned that failing to prioritize safe migration puts human lives at risk, and fuels kidnappings, extortions, murders and rapes and human trafficking by criminal groups.

A little over a week ago, the US government reduced the validity of the B2 visa for Cubans, from five years to three months, with a single entry, under the pretext of allegedly matching Cuba's travel policy toward U.S. citizens.  Havana rejected the decision calling it "an additional obstacle to the exercise of the right of Cuban citizens to visit their relatives in that country."

Last year, almost 552, 000 Cubans traveled abroad for personal reasons, a notable increase  from 2017.