Cuban Consul in Veracruz states that requests for return to the island are increasing

The Consul General of Cuba in Veracruz, Elisa Martínez Martínez, stated that requests for repatriation from Cuban citizens have increased significantly in recent months, attributing this phenomenon to the .

According to the diplomat, the increase in applications began around October 2024 and has since shown a growing trend.

"Now the process has reversed. At this moment, we have quite a few requests for returns to Cuba, since around October, but in light of the new Trump laws, they have reconsidered their options," he said in an interview with the local outlet Cambio Digital.

Martínez Martínez detailed that the consulate is receiving an average of six applications daily, which are evaluated individually by the Cuban immigration authorities.

However, not all migrants wish to return. “I suppose some will try to stay here (in Veracruz) to look for work, while others will leave for other countries,” he noted.

In addition to the impact of political decisions on their migration routes, the consul warned about the dangers that Cubans face during their transit through Mexico.

According to the statement, kidnapping, extortion, and murder are crimes that frequently expose them, just like migrants of other nationalities.

“She added that Cuban migrants face various dangers and crimes daily during their journey through Mexico, just like migrants from other countries,” emphasized the official, in statements reported by La Jornada.

In this regard, he reiterated that the Cuban consulate is available to provide support to its citizens in vulnerable situations. "Therefore, in light of these issues, they should go [to the consulate] to receive assistance," he emphasized.

In January, the president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, announced that her government would begin a repatriation program for migrants stranded in the country.

The measure, he explained, was taken as a direct response to the migration pressures generated by the Trump administration and would primarily affect Latin American migrants, including Cubans.

"We would seek the mechanisms through immigration policy and foreign policy to guarantee their return. There are agreements with Guatemala and virtually all Central American countries, and there was a meeting last week regarding this. There is also an agreement with Cuba," the leader assured at that time.

According to data from the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR), in 2024 more than 16,000 asylum applications were registered from Cuban citizens, making them the second largest group of applicants, only surpassed by Hondurans.

However, Mexican authorities have systematically rejected many of these applications, even when applicants present evidence of political persecution. This situation leaves Cubans in a vulnerable position, without documents that allow them to legally reside in the country or reunite with their families.

In light of these challenges, some Cuban migrants have chosen to settle permanently in Mexico.

Cities like Tapachula have become key hotspots in this new wave of migration, where Cubans seek job opportunities and a more stable life.

For his part, since his return to the White House, President Donald Trump has implemented a series of measures that have directly impacted the migrant community, especially Cubans.

Among the most notable actions is the revocation of the humanitarian "parole" program, which has put over 530,000 migrants, including around 111,000 Cubans, at risk of deportation.

Furthermore, the Trump administration has suspended the permanent residency processes for individuals who were already approved as refugees or granted asylum in the United States.

Frequently asked questions about the increase in return requests to Cuba and the migration situation