Thirty-eight Cuban migrants caught trying to sail to the U.S. have been stranded aboard a U.S. Coast Guard vessel, waiting for permission from the Cuban government to return home, according to AP. The would-be immigrants had tourist visas to the Caribbean island nation of Saint Lucia when they were intercepted at sea by the Coast Guard, U.S. officials told The Associated Press. The Cuban government has refused re-entry to the island because their return does not comport with a repatriation agreement with the U.S., one official said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details of the situation. The migrants were among about 96 Cubans intercepted at sea in late April and taken aboard the Coast Guard cutter Vigilant. The Cuban government allowed the return of the other 58 people. The Cuban government has made no comment about the case. Under U.S. law, Cuban nationals who make it onto U.S. soil are granted permission to come into the country and can quickly become legal permanent residents and eventually U.S. citizens. Migrants caught at sea generally are sent back to Cuba. The United States and Cuba are trying to wrap up an agreement in the coming days that would allow them to re-establish embassies and post ambassadors to each other's capitals after a half-century interruption. The biggest obstacle to restoring full diplomatic relations is almost gone: the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism. Obama announced his intention last month to delist Cuba, and the change will become effective May 29.
