Cuban Criticizes CBP Home Experience, Claims Unpaid Promised Compensation

In a startling revelation, a Cuban national who opted for self-deportation through the CBP Home app has accused the U.S. government of failing to deliver the promised compensation upon his return to Cuba, describing the initiative as a "deception." The account was shared by journalist Mario J. Pentón on social media, where the unnamed migrant detailed the voluntary departure process facilitated by the app.

The individual recounted entering the United States in August 2024 under a family reunification parole. However, by June of this year, he had lost his work permit. Subsequently, he registered with the CBP Home application, and by mid-July, received an email detailing the steps to arrange his return.

He was contacted at least three times from various numbers before being assigned a case officer in Virginia, to whom he had to report every step of his departure. "They asked for a photo of my valid passport, and I had to notify them when I arrived at the airport, checked in, passed through immigration, and even when I was seated on the plane. Everything had to be reported via WhatsApp and email," he recalled.

The migrant specifically inquired about how the promised stipend would be paid, given the lack of banking agreements between the U.S. and Cuba due to the embargo. He was assured that a "financial team" would handle the disbursement and he would receive the funds in cash upon arrival in Cuba. "Ultimately, I arrived in Havana to nothing but silence," he lamented, stating that he has yet to see the money or any response from authorities.

At Havana's airport, he was pulled aside during immigration checks and questioned about his status in the U.S., work permit, and past employment. "It was an uncomfortable moment, and I even thought they didn’t want me there," he remembered.

Allegations of Deception Against CBP Home

The Cuban warned that while migrants from other countries, such as El Salvador, received credit cards as part of the self-deportation initiative, there is no transparency regarding payment mechanisms for him and other Cubans. "I want to tell everyone considering applying to think twice if they have no other choice. It’s really a deception, at least for Cubans," he stated.

Launched in March 2025 as a successor to CBP One, the CBP Home app is designed to allow undocumented immigrants to declare their "intention to leave" and coordinate a voluntary return. By April, at least 2,500 migrants had registered for self-deportation. In May, the Trump administration announced that participants would receive $1,000 and a plane ticket as an incentive.

The government defended the program as a way to offer migrants a "dignified exit" and reduce deportation costs, while human rights organizations have cautioned that it may increase the vulnerability of those returning to impoverished or persecutory environments. This Cuban's testimony adds a layer of uncertainty, highlighting the disparity between the app's promises and the reality for those choosing to return.