A total of 128 undocumented Cuban migrants were deported on December 18 from the United States to Cuba. The flight landed at Havana's José Martí International Airport, as confirmed by Cuba's Ministry of the Interior (MININT) through their official Facebook page.
The official statement revealed that this group included 106 men, 21 women, and one minor. Their return was conducted "in compliance with existing bilateral migration agreements" between the two nations.
Authorities also noted that one of the returnees was taken into custody, as they had been on parole when they illegally left the country.
This flight marks the 53rd deportation of Cuban migrants from various nations across the region in 2025, bringing the total number of individuals sent back to the island to 1,663.
Moreover, the MININT announced that six more migrants, intercepted at sea while attempting to leave the country unlawfully by boat, are scheduled for return on Friday morning. If this return takes place, the total number of repatriated Cubans will reach 1,669.
In their statement, Cuban authorities reaffirmed their official stance supporting "regular, safe, and orderly" migration. They emphasized the dangers associated with illegal departures from the country, whether by sea or other means.
The document stresses the life-threatening risks these journeys pose to those who undertake them.
So far, there have been no further details provided regarding the conditions of the migrants upon their arrival or their immediate future within the country, aside from the detention of the individual who violated their parole.
The deportations from the United States are part of a mechanism that has remained active in recent years, even amid political tensions. This process is governed by migration agreements signed between both governments.
On November 20, the United States deported 139 Cuban migrants on the eleventh ICE-chartered flight to Havana in 2025, marking the second such operation in the month.
The group on this flight included 109 men and 30 women.
Upon the flight's arrival, authorities detained an individual who had been on parole at the time they left the country.
Earlier, on November 6, the administration of President Donald Trump set a record by deporting 232 Cuban citizens, the largest operation since the resumption of ICE deportation flights in 2023.
Trump has deported more Cubans than any other U.S. president since the aerial deportations resumed. According to data from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) cited by Café Fuerte, as of November, Trump had deported 4,755 Cuban citizens, far exceeding his predecessors:
Joe Biden: 978
Barack Obama: 341
George W. Bush: 416
With the December 18 flight, the number of irregular migrants returned to Cuba reaches 4,883 across 12 deportation flights coordinated with the Cuban regime.
Additionally, Cubans whose entry is not accepted by the regime are being deported to third countries, a practice that has intensified under the toughest U.S. immigration policy in decades.
This intensification signals a clear hardening of U.S. immigration policy under Trump's leadership, marked by a surge in arrests and mass expulsions of undocumented immigrants, many with criminal records.
Understanding the Recent Deportations of Cuban Migrants
Why are Cuban migrants being deported from the United States?
Cuban migrants are being deported in compliance with bilateral migration agreements between the United States and Cuba. These agreements aim to maintain order and safety in migration flows.
What are the risks associated with illegal migration from Cuba?
Illegal migration from Cuba poses significant dangers, including life-threatening risks, especially for those attempting perilous journeys by sea.
How has U.S. immigration policy changed under Donald Trump's administration?
Under President Trump's administration, U.S. immigration policy has become more stringent, leading to an increase in arrests and deportations of undocumented immigrants.