This Thursday, the United States deported a group of 136 Cuban migrants, marking the ninth operation of this kind in 2025 from U.S. soil. The return was conducted via air travel, in accordance with the current migration agreements between the two nations. According to the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), the group included 125 men and 11 women, with four of them handed over to investigative authorities for alleged involvement in criminal activities prior to leaving the island.
With this flight, the total number of deportation operations from various countries in the region this year has reached 37, resulting in the return of 1,140 individuals to Cuba. Of these, 999 originated from the United States, as per official data. Cuban authorities have reiterated their "commitment to regular, safe, and orderly migration," while also warning about the dangers posed by illegal departures, both for the migrants' lives and for social stability.
This recent flight comes just weeks after a previous one, which brought 161 individuals to Havana amid a cloak of secrecy, with suspicions that former judge Melody González Pedraza was among the returnees. However, González's deportation was confirmed this Thursday after spending 484 days in various ICE detention centers in the United States. Her arrival in May 2024 sparked outrage among the Cuban exile community due to her repressive history as the former president of the Encrucijada Municipal Court in Villa Clara.
González was known for issuing prison sentences against young protesters in trials criticized for lacking legal guarantees and relying on confessions obtained under duress. Her name appeared on a list of repressors compiled by the Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba. The confirmation of her deportation has reignited the debate over the moral and legal responsibility of former regime officials seeking asylum abroad. Attorney Santiago Alpízar from the organization Cuba Demanda told Martí Noticias, "She is no victim. Nothing will happen to her upon her return to Cuba."
Since Donald Trump took office in 2025, there has been an increase in the deportation of Cuban migrants, although these flights resumed during Joe Biden's administration after a period of suspension.
Key Questions on U.S. Deportations to Cuba
Why were these Cuban migrants deported?
The deportations are part of the ongoing migration agreements between the U.S. and Cuba, aimed at ensuring regular, safe, and orderly migration.
What happened to Melody González Pedraza?
Melody González Pedraza was deported after spending 484 days in U.S. detention. Her deportation reignited debates due to her controversial history as a former judge in Cuba.
How has the U.S. approach to Cuban deportations changed?
Deportations have increased since Donald Trump took office in 2025, though they were resumed during Joe Biden's administration after a suspension period.