The United States - the top destination for Cuban migrants -in 2022 renewed talks with Cuba and has since increased legal pathways to migration for Cubans, including visa access in Havana, family reunification and humanitarian parole programs aimed at stemming illegal migration. But the problem won't go away, said Cuban vice foreign minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, until the United States eases sanctions on the island, which Cuba blames for devastating its already-ailing state-run economy. "For the United States, the priority of destabilizing Cuba continues to take precedence over its interest in protecting its borders in terms of migration," de Cossio told reporters following the talks. The U.S. says the sanctions are necessary to promote human rights and fundamental liberties in Cuba and that it makes exceptions for humanitarian purposes. Reporting by Nelson Acosta; editing by Dave Sherwood and Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Persons: Yireht, Yanara, Adrees Latif, Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, de Cossio, Nelson Acosta, Dave Sherwood, Leslie Adler Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Cuban, U.S . State Department, Thomson Locations: Cuba, Rio, United States, Mexico, Eagle Pass , Texas, U.S, Rights HAVANA, Havana, Cuban, Caribbean