Willy Chirino Speaks Out on U.S. Immigration Crisis: "Work is Key Here"

Cuban-American musician Willy Chirino has delivered a strong message to immigrants arriving in the United States amidst the ongoing immigration crisis: "You don't come here to be lazy or hang out on a corner drinking beer. You come here to work, to really work... if you work hard here, you will succeed," he stated during an interview with radio host Enrique Santos.

In the conversation broadcast on the YouTube channel Enrique Santos Show, Chirino voiced his concerns about border management and the societal impact of the uncontrolled influx of people. "Obama deported 2.5 million Latin Americans, Trump deported 1.7 million, and Biden, not only might have deported who knows what 700,000, but he allowed 21 million people to enter, and you don't know where they're from," Chirino asserted.

The musician drew parallels between the current situation and the 1980 Mariel crisis, when Fidel Castro "emptied the jails and mental institutions" to send prisoners and patients to the U.S. "It was a disaster; Jimmy Carter was president," he recalled, warning that today's landscape is worsened by threats like drug trafficking and fentanyl. "This man opened the border, and what came in was...," he added, referring to Biden.

Deportation Statistics Under Different Administrations

During Barack Obama's two terms (2009-2017), the U.S. witnessed the highest historical rate of formal deportations, surpassing 3 million expulsions, with a peak of 409,849 in the fiscal year 2012, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) data. In contrast, Donald Trump, in his first term (2017-2021), recorded approximately 943,000 formal deportations, significantly lower than Obama's record, as per the DHS Yearbook of Immigration Statistics. Under Joe Biden, around 1.1 million removals were documented by fiscal year 2023, with a notable increase in 2024, ending with 271,484 deportations, the highest figure in the last decade.

These figures exclusively account for formal deportations managed by ICE and exclude expedited removals or administrative returns (such as those executed under Title 42).

A Call for Humanity Amidst Political Polarization

Chirino's remarks stand in contrast to the views of Gloria Estefan, who in recent interviews expressed her concern over the persecution of immigrants and the growing political division in the country. "I've never seen the United States as polarized as it is now," she told Jorge Ramos in July, recalling that despite having lived through racial segregation, she had not witnessed such a tense climate.

In another conversation with Canela News, the "Mi Tierra" singer recounted an incident on a domestic flight when immigration agents separated a mother from her baby: "What was the need to take the child from that mother's arms if both were going to leave anyway? I don't understand why humanity has to be lost. It scares me," she stated. In the same interview, Estefan acknowledged the need for rules but questioned the methods: "This country was built by immigrants. Obviously, there are people who take advantage, criminals who exploit the system, and rules are necessary. But it's not necessary to go to that extreme."

A Divided Community Amid Escalating Tensions

The immigration debate is heating up as the administration of Donald Trump tightens its immigration policies. In early 2025, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt declared that "all illegal immigrants are criminals" due to violating immigration laws, making clear that there will be no distinction between those with criminal records and those seeking regularization.

Mass detentions and deportations have increased, affecting thousands of Cubans who arrived during recent immigration crises. While Chirino emphasizes that success relies on hard work and individual effort, Estefan urges people not to lose their humanity amid law enforcement.

The discussion highlights the variety of opinions within the Cuban community in the U.S. at a time when immigration continues to shape the country's political and social agenda.