Spain's Cuban Grandchildren Get Passports

Filed in archive Europe on February 9, 2009

Spain is issuing passports to Cubans who qualify for Spanish citizenship under that country's "historical memory" law, according to Reuters.

The historical memory law may let as many as 200,000 Cubans claim Spanish citizenship because they have a grandparent born in Spain. Globally, Spain estimates that one million people could take advantage of this law and become Spanish citizens.

The first recipient, 38-year-old cardiologist Norberto Luis Diaz, said he already had his bags packed for a flight on Sunday to Spain, retracing in reverse the journey his grandfather made when he emigrated to Cuba in 1916.

Cubans who qualify can move to Spain. If they decide to accept Spanish citizenship but stay in Cuba, having the Spanish passport would make it easier for them to travel abroad.


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