The Cubans seeking asylum in Mexico are reportedly facing a more stringent scrutiny of their stories and the evidence they present to the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR), with particular attention paid to the time elapsed between the reported incidents and their departure from Cuba, as well as to the continuity of the alleged persecution.
The warning was issued by Dra. Irene Pascual, a specialist in Mexican immigration law, who explained in a video posted on TikTok that in recent weeks several individuals from Cuba have reached out to her after receiving rejections in their asylum processes.
«The COMAR is no longer believing the Cubans in their story of seeking refuge», Pascual stated while summarizing what he has found when reviewing the negative resolutions of several applicants.
One of the main issues relates to time. The specialist cited examples of individuals who claim to have experienced certain events in Cuba during 2023, yet stayed on the island until 2025 before leaving the country.
According to Pascual, in such cases, COMAR may interpret that if a prolonged period has elapsed without new incidents before leaving Cuba, the person is no longer considered a target of interest and their argument for seeking protection weakens.
The second key element is what the specialist referred to as «systematicity». In simple terms, one or two isolated episodes may not be enough to demonstrate that a person needs shelter due to facing a real and persistent risk.
The warning is especially important for those who base their application on having participated in protests against the Cuban government.
"Previously, people used to say that they participated in a demonstration and that was enough for the COMAR to grant them refuge; at this moment, it is no longer the case," Pascual stated.
His explanation does not simply aim to provide more details during the interview, but to support the narrative with evidence whenever possible.
The specialist recommended submitting documents, photographs, complaints, summons, or other items that can support the reported facts, preferably in writing and before the interview.
COMAR itself explains in its public information about the procedure that the eligibility interview is meant to understand the applicant's history and points out that, when available, it is important to provide evidence that supports the statements made.
Such evidence can be submitted at the beginning of the process or during its proceedings.
For now, Pascual's warning should be understood as an assessment based on the resolutions he claims to have reviewed and the cases that have come to his attention, rather than as an announcement of a new regulation published by COMAR.
The difficulties in obtaining protection in Mexico, however, are not new for Cuban citizens.
At the end of 2024, migrants reported denials of asylum even after presenting evidence of repression and threats suffered in Cuba.
Some affected individuals then claimed that the authorities interpreted their departures as primarily driven by economic reasons.
Migratory pressure has continued. In January 2026, Cubans were among the top beneficiaries of Mexican cards for humanitarian reasons, while numerous applicants waited for months for interviews or resolutions in cities like Tapachula and Tijuana.
The situation has become even more complicated with the arrival in Mexico of thousands of Cubans deported from the United States.
A report from Human Rights Watch counted more than 4,353 Cubans sent to Mexican territory between January 2025 and March 2026, and documented cases of individuals stranded without documents, stable employment, or a clear pathway to regularize their situation.
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