Jorge Escudero, leader of the Citizen Council on Security in Cancún, took the opportunity to clarify responsibilities amid the rising tension between Mexican residents and Cuban migrants in the city. He stated that the real issue is not the Cubans coming from the island in search of work, but those who are deported from the United States with criminal records.
His statements, captured by Informativo Quintana Roo TV in a video published on social media, come at a time of heightened social tension, triggered by a series of incidents involving Cuban citizens in various areas of Cancún.
The most recent and significant case occurred on May 28, when a man identified as Rigoberto "N" physically assaulted a Mexican neighbor who confronted him about his dog biting without a leash in Supermanzana 23. The video of the assault went viral and led nearly 200 people to gather in front of the Cuban's home, throwing stones and bottles, forcing authorities to deploy a response team including Municipal Police, State Police, National Guard, and riot control units.
Weeks earlier, on May 21, Cuban singer Willy "N", 29 years old, was shot nine times in the same Supermanzana 23 and was left in critical condition, with four Cubans arrested as suspects. An armed attack was also reported against the vehicle of a Cuban on Bonampak Avenue.
Escudero was clear in distinguishing: "The problem does not arise with the people who emigrate from Cuba to Mexico, because they come eager to work; they come seeking a better way of life due to the very low health conditions, among other things, that they experience there."
The focus of his criticism points in another direction: "The problem lies with the people from Cuba being brought out of the United States. Those people who lived there for years and who have criminal records or had problems there and are being deported to Mexico. Those are the ones who come tainted and, unfortunately, come with money."
The leader also pointed out that the National Institute of Migration (INM) is the link that allows individuals with criminal records to settle legally in Mexico: "The biggest problem is called migration, the corruption within that institution. Because with a little money, five thousand dollars, four thousand two hundred dollars that they charge, immigration immediately gets them their paperwork."
Escudero reported that the INM in Quintana Roo is regularizing individuals with outstanding arrest warrants in the United States, citing the case of the singer shot in Supermanzana 23 as an example: "There is indeed a very, very high level of corruption there."
On June 3rd, two more Cubans were detained in Cancún for their alleged involvement in the viral fight against Mexicans. Meanwhile, Cuban residents in Mexico demanded that the Cuban Foreign Ministry break its silence in response to the wave of hostility that erupted in the city.
The leader also expressed his displeasure regarding the reaction of a young Cuban who burned a Mexican flag in response to the events: “Gentlemen, if you are not happy, then go back to Cuba,” he said, although he clarified that the issue should not be generalized.
The migration context is crucial. According to Human Rights Watch, between January 20, 2025, and March 9, 2026, the United States deported 4,353 Cubans to Mexico, the largest group of third-country nationals deported to Mexican territory, representing a 42% increase in the monthly average since the start of the second Trump administration.
Escudero concluded his message with a call to not turn the situation into a war of hatred: "It's not worth making this any bigger. We need to identify the rotten apples, as there are also Mexicans among them, and combat the individuals who create insecurity, regardless of their nationality."
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