Court Overturns Stay Blocking Cubans’ Return

ATLANTA — Cuban refugees at Guantanamo Bay and in Panama can be returned to their homeland if they want and have a right to speak to lawyers, an appeals court ruled Friday.

The ruling from the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals makes permanent part of a temporary order it issued late Thursday.

The decision means that the government can send back to Cuba more than 1,000 Cubans who want to go home. Twenty-three refugees were expected to be returned during the weekend.

Almost 24,000 Cubans are being held at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo. Another 8,000 are in Panama under U.S. supervision.

The court on Thursday temporarily overturned a U.S. District Court order blocking the repatriations, pending arguments at Friday’s hearing.

The appeals court agreed that those who want to return to Cuba voluntarily should be allowed to return. But it also agreed with the lower court decision that a group of attorneys who sought to advise the refugees may visit them.