The immigration lawyer Willy Allen debunked in a recent interview with Tania Costa from CiberCuba one of the most widely held myths within the Cuban community in the United States: that the deportations of Cubans are massive and indiscriminate.
"Look, we said they weren't going to deport Cubans, and look how many Cubans have been deported," Allen acknowledged, but immediately put the figures into perspective. Of the approximately 1.2 million Cubans who entered the United States between 2017 and 2024, the total number of deported individuals is around 5,000, a proportion that the lawyer considers minimal.
"1.2 million Cubans entered. So they have deported. Criminals, I don't think anyone is surprised," Allen stated, emphasizing that the vast majority of those expelled have criminal records or lost their asylum cases.
The lawyer distinguishes three main groups among the deported Cubans. The first consists of nearly 6,000 sent to Mexico, of which Allen estimates that "80% are criminals."
The second group consists of those who travel on direct flights to Cuba, whom he describes as individuals "who entered after 2017, lost their asylum cases or did not attend their hearings," or did not manage to demonstrate a "credible fear" and never had the opportunity to legally fight their case.
The third group, the smallest one, consists of Cubans with form I-220A —a release order under recognition without final deportation— who were detained due to mistakes or reckless decisions. Regarding them, Allen was unequivocal: "They have deported some I-220A, yes. I would say they are hundreds, not thousands."
This distinction between the I-220A and the I-220B is key to understanding the real risk for each Cuban. Cubans with I-220B face a higher risk of deportation because they already have a final deportation order, whereas I-220A holders keep their case open.
Official data supports Allen's analysis. Since January 2025, the Trump administration has deported 1,901 Cubans, bringing the total for both terms to 5,286 individuals, according to records from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). So far in 2026, ICE has completed three flights with 403 expelled Cubans.
Allen also expressed surprise at two recent events. First, that Mexico has accepted 6,000 deported Cubans under an unwritten agreement with Washington, leaving them in a legal limbo in cities like Tapachula and Villahermosa, without documents or the possibility of returning to Cuba or the United States. Second, that the Cuban regime has begun to accept even criminals with serious convictions. On February 9, Cuba received a flight with 170 deportees, at least 50 of whom have convictions for serious offenses.
The situation is even broader when considering that more than 42,000 Cubans have final deportation orders in the United States, although historically the regime has refused to accept them, a situation that is changing under Trump's pressure.
For Cubans who qualify, the Cuban Adjustment Act remains the main protection available, allowing them to apply for permanent residency after a year of presence in the United States without the need to leave the country. Allen has actively argued in court that the I-220A is equivalent to a parole, which would open that door to hundreds of thousands of Cubans.
"They are a small number compared to the number of Cubans who have entered the United States, and the number of criminals deported is minimal compared to the number of Cubans with final deportation orders living in the United States," concluded Allen, urging the Cuban community not to succumb to panic, but to consult with a lawyer if they have an I-220B or have lost an asylum case.
Regarding the I-220B deportees, Allen explained that "those who have been returned after March 2017 are not criminals, but rather unfortunate individuals who lost asylum or credible fear at the border or during detention. The number of criminals has increased since 2025 and is expected to surge after June 2025 with the availability of sending them to Mexico," he concluded.
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