What initially seemed like the end of a migratory nightmare for dozens of Cubans morphed into a prolonged ordeal. First, they found themselves in ICE detention centers in the United States, then at the Guantánamo Bay Naval Base, and ultimately faced a forced return to Cuba.
On Monday, the United States deported 170 Cuban nationals via a charter flight that touched down at Havana's José Martí International Airport, effectively ending the limbo for numerous men who had languished for weeks in military facilities historically linked to terrorism detainees.
The New York Times, which closely followed the situation since the first Cubans were redirected to Guantánamo in late 2025, confirmed the details of this operation, characterized by official silence and family distress.
Guantánamo Detention: A Jarring Reality
According to the New York Times, more than 50 of those deported were part of a group relocated from ICE detention centers, including the large facility in Natchez, Mississippi, to the U.S. base in eastern Cuba.
Many of these individuals had agreed to deportation with the expectation of a direct return to Havana. Instead, their flight landed in Guantánamo, where they were confined in a facility formerly used to detain Al Qaeda suspects—a reality that was hard for their families to comprehend.
Throughout this ordeal, mothers, wives, and sisters reported that the men were isolated, receiving only brief and fearful phone calls. In private support groups, families shared rumors, offered prayers, and attempted to piece together the whereabouts of their loved ones in the absence of clear official communication.
Back to Cuba: The Final Leg
The New York Times reported that the flight repatriating the detainees originated from airfields in Louisiana and Florida, ultimately delivering them to Havana.
The newspaper noted that the Cubans had been detained for months in the U.S., including a stint in Guantánamo, before being moved to Mississippi last week.
Human rights organizations verified that this was the first deportation flight to Cuba since December 18, according to Human Rights First, which tracks these operations through the ICE Flight Monitor program.
Nevertheless, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) refrained from addressing questions about the detainees and their movements.
Cuban Authorities Respond
The Cuban Ministry of the Interior (MININT) confirmed that the flight carried 153 men and 17 women. Cuban authorities stated that three individuals were handed over to investigative bodies for alleged crimes committed before leaving Cuba.
This return comes at a particularly challenging time for the island, which is grappling with power outages, food and medicine shortages, a transportation collapse, and increasingly visible social deterioration.
Understanding the Impact of Repatriation
Why were Cuban migrants sent to Guantánamo?
The Cuban migrants were sent to Guantánamo as part of an operation that involved transferring them from ICE detention centers. This move was unexpected and left families distressed due to the facility's historical association with terrorism detainees.
How have Cuban authorities responded to the deportation?
Cuban authorities confirmed the arrival of the deported individuals and reported that three were handed over to investigative bodies for alleged crimes committed before their departure from Cuba.
What challenges is Cuba facing currently?
Cuba is currently dealing with significant issues including power outages, shortages of food and medicine, a collapse in transportation systems, and an increasingly visible social deterioration.