A total of 118 Cubans were deported this Thursday from the United States and arrived in Havana on a chartered flight that landed at José Martí International Airport, marking the seventh deportation flight of the year from U.S. territory, as confirmed by Cuban authorities.
From the group, 96 were men and 22 were women. Three of them were transferred directly to criminal investigation bodies for being linked to alleged crimes committed before leaving the island.
This flight on July 31, announced days earlier by journalist Mario J. Pentón, is part of the bilateral migration agreements between Havana and Washington, and brings the total to 833 Cubans repatriated so far in 2025 from various countries in the region, reported the official outlet Cubadebate, amidst an increasingly tense context for Cuban migrants.
Despite the diplomatic freeze and the indefinite suspension of bilateral migration talks in April, the Cuban regime has continued to receive deportation flights, indicating a minimal channel of operational cooperation between both parties.
Havana has reaffirmed its commitment to a “regular, safe, and orderly” migration, while also warning about the risks associated with illegal departures from the country, many of which are driven by economic desperation, political repression, or a lack of future on the island.
Deportation occurs under the current administration of Donald Trump, which has dramatically hardened its immigration policy since taking office in January. The elimination of humanitarian parole, the cancellation of CBP One, and the end of the "catch and release" policy at the border have placed thousands of Cubans in a migratory limbo.
According to official figures, more than 42,000 Cubans are currently under final deportation orders in the U.S., many under supervised release or in detention centers in Louisiana and New Mexico. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has acknowledged that more than 185,000 deportations have already been executed, which it describes as a historic effort to “restore border control.”
A spokesperson for the DHS stated to Martí Noticias that the current immigration policy aims to fulfill President Trump's promise to carry out the “largest deportation in history.”
The human drama behind every flight
Each deportation flight carries more than just numbers: it brings broken stories, shattered dreams, and separated families. Many of the repatriated left after selling everything, going into debt, or venturing into the sea, the jungle, or illegal routes with the hope of rebuilding their lives outside of Cuba.
Now, they return to a country that does not always welcome them with open arms. Some face stigmas, others judicial investigations, and many endure the same uncertainty that drove them to emigrate.
Editor’s Note: Initially, the Ministry of the Interior of Cuba reported that 134 Cuban citizens, 112 men and 22 women, had been returned. However, they later revised the official figure, lowering it to 118 individuals. This correction was not accompanied by a detailed explanation regarding the discrepancy in the numbers.
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