Cuban offical blames U.S. for death
Cuba’s Parliament speaker blamed the U.S. government Monday for the drowning last week of a 6-year-old Cuban boy during an illegal migration attempt to South Florida.
The child, Julian Villasuso, died Thursday when the boat smuggling him and 30 others – including his parents – capsized in the Straits of Florida about 45 miles south of Key West as it was being pursued by a Coast Guard cutter.
The boy’s parents were among those the Coast Guard later found clinging to the overturned speedboat, which authorities believe was captained by migrant smugglers. The boy’s body was discovered after the craft was turned upright.
“If you arrive (in the United States) they admit you,” Parliament speaker Ricardo Alarcon told international reporters. He was referring to American policies that allow most Cubans who reach U.S. soil to stay, but return most of those picked up at sea to their homeland.
“But you have to make it, escape from the (U.S.) Coast Guard, you have to violate American laws, you have to risk your life,” added Alarcon, among President Fidel Castro’s most trusted senior officials.
The child’s parents – Julian Villasuso and Maizy Hurtado – were released to relatives living in Florida. The U.S. Attorney’s Office had asked Washington to admit the parents to the country because it is considering prosecution against the smugglers.
Source: SeattlePI.com
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