A group of 89 migrants was deported this Wednesday from the United States and arrived in Havana on a charter flight that landed at José Martí International Airport, reported Cuba's Ministry of the Interior (MININT).
Of the total number of returnees, 76 are men, 12 are women, and one is a minor, the entity specified on its official communication channel.
With this operation, there are 20 immigration returns to Cuba from various countries in the region so far in 2025, totaling 676 repatriated individuals, the report details.
The repatriation occurs in the context of the current immigration policy of the government of Donald Trump, which, since its return to power, has intensified actions against irregular immigration, including the reinstatement of mass deportation flights to Cuba.
On May 30th, the United States deported 130 Cubans, marking the largest repatriation flight of the year thus far and the biggest since these operations resumed in April 2023.
Five of those returned on that occasion were handed over to the criminal investigation bodies of the MININT for having left the country while under conditional release.
Deportations are carried out under the existing bilateral agreements between Havana and Washington, with the stated purpose of discouraging illegal departures and promoting “regular, safe, and orderly migration.”
However, in April, the Trump administration indefinitely suspended migration talks with Cuba, a move that has further strained the diplomatic landscape between the two countries.
Additionally, the recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to authorize the cancellation of the humanitarian parole program (CHNV) has created significant uncertainty among thousands of Cubans who arrived under this protection since 2022.
According to official figures, more than 42,000 Cubans are currently in the United States with final deportation orders, under supervised release.
The Cuban government has shown reluctance to accept the return of those who have been outside the country since before 2017 or who have a criminal record, which has forced the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to seek unusual alternatives, such as the deportation of two Cuban nationals to South Sudan.
Meanwhile, other citizens have been detained in immigration detention centers in Louisiana and New Mexico, or released under supervision after exceeding the legal retention periods.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Deportation of Cubans from the United States
Why is the United States deporting Cubans on mass flights?
The mass deportations of Cubans from the United States are framed within the immigration policy of Donald Trump's second term. This policy aims to intensify actions against irregular immigration, including the reactivation of deportation flights to Cuba. Furthermore, the Supreme Court ruling that allows the revocation of the humanitarian parole program has increased uncertainty for thousands of Cubans in the U.S.
How many Cubans have been deported from the United States in 2025?
Until mid-June 2025, a total of 676 Cubans have been deported from the United States in various operations. These deportations occur within the framework of bilateral agreements between Havana and Washington, although migration talks between the two countries are currently suspended.
What problems do deported Cubans face when returning to the island?
Deported Cubans face interrogations and limitations in finding employment, and in some cases, political persecution. The situation is exacerbated by the economic crisis in Cuba, which complicates the reintegration of the deported individuals into a poverty-stricken society under state surveillance.
How does the suspension of the humanitarian parole program affect Cubans in the U.S.?
The suspension of the humanitarian parole program generates great uncertainty among thousands of Cubans who arrived in the U.S. under this provision since 2022. This program allowed migrants to live and work temporarily in the country, and its revocation could lead to a mass expulsion of individuals without the need for an individual assessment of each case.
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