ICE Expels Nearly 8,000 Cubans in 17 Months as Trump Toughens Immigration Crackdown
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 14
ICE Expels Nearly 8,000 Cubans in 17 Months as Trump Toughens Immigration Crackdown
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 14
Summary
Nearly 8,000 Cuban nationals had been expelled from the US by April, more than double the 3,385 deported during Trump’s entire first term, according to ICE data.
The surge reflects Trump’s broader crackdown on undocumented migrants and a refusal to give Cubans the preferential treatment many once received as presumed political refugees.
Human Rights Watch said most deportees were pushed into Mexico, where many — including older people with health problems — face legal limbo, little shelter or medicine, and exposure to criminal groups.
About 2,000 Cubans were repatriated directly to Cuba even as the administration frames Havana as a failed state; analysts say Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio prioritize pressure for regime change over immigration relief.
The policy is straining South Florida politics: Miami now leads US metro areas in deportations, while Trump’s support among Cuban Americans has slipped to 53% from the 68% who backed him in 2024.
As legal pathways close, what future awaits thousands of Cubans who are already living and working in the U.S.?
With record deaths in ICE custody, what is being done to ensure the safety and humane treatment of detainees?
"4,353 Cubans Deported to Mexico in 2025: Inside the Trump Administration’s Crackdown and Its Lasting Consequences"
Overview
The Trump administration made a major and immediate change to U.S. immigration policy for Cubans by aggressively pushing to deport thousands and removing existing protections. This led to a sharp rise in deportations, especially to Mexico, where Cubans became the largest group among third-country nationals sent there in 2025. Many deported Cubans, often older adults, were denied due process and left stranded in Mexico without basic services, facing harsh conditions like living in parks or shelters. These actions sparked public disapproval and legal challenges, highlighting the severe impact on Cuban families and communities.