A group of 116 Cuban migrants, who were in the United States unlawfully, were sent back to Cuba on Thursday, landing at Havana's José Martí International Airport.
The Ministry of the Interior announced on Facebook that this deportation operation was carried out according to bilateral migration agreements. The group consisted of 88 men and 28 women.
With this recent deportation, the total number of individuals returned to Cuba from the U.S. in the first two months of 2026 has reached 302, based on official statistics.
Cuban authorities have once again expressed their preference for "regular, safe, and orderly" migration while cautioning against the dangers of illegal departures from the island.
The first deportation flight of 2026 took place on February 9, when 170 Cuban migrants were transported back from the United States, as reported by the Ministry of the Interior through its official channels.
This flight, occurring just 10 days ago, was notable because, according to U.S. government information, it was the first to include individuals with convictions for serious crimes such as murder, rape, kidnapping, and drug trafficking.
In 2026 so far, there have been two confirmed deportation flights from the U.S. to Cuba: one on February 9 with 170 migrants, and another on February 19 with 116, totaling 286 deportees for the year according to detailed records.
However, authorities have reported an accumulation of 302 individuals in the first two months, suggesting an additional 16 cases not publicly detailed in available reports.
Uncertainties in Migration Statistics
The Ministry of the Interior's brief and vague statement does not explicitly confirm that all 302 migrants returned in the first two months of 2026 were deported solely from the United States, leaving open the possibility that part of this number includes returns from other countries or maritime interceptions.
Between the year's first deportation flight on February 9 with 170 migrants and the second on February 19 with 116, at least one migration-related incident occurred in waters near Cuba that could affect the total balance.
On February 15, 2026, the cruise ship Radiance of the Seas, operated by Royal Caribbean, rescued six individuals adrift in a small boat in the western Caribbean.
According to Royal Caribbean Blog, the cruise ship halted its journey upon spotting the distressed vessel off the Cuban coast.
Cruise passengers shared on social media that the ship remained stationary while the rescue was coordinated. Facebook user Mike Hoglander noted they were "completely stopped awaiting the rescue of six individuals."
Another passenger explained on Reddit that the captain decided to stop in compliance with international laws requiring assistance to those at sea in distress.
According to these accounts, the Coast Guard was unable to respond, and the cruise ship's crew ultimately conducted the rescue.
Royal Caribbean Blog confirmed that the boat was taking on water and reported the successful rescue of the six individuals who were brought aboard.
The incident didn't just stay in passenger posts. Cayman News Service (CNS) later confirmed that the six rescued were adult Cuban men who were taken to the Cayman Islands, where they were placed under the custody of Cayman Islands Customs and Border Control for processing according to local immigration laws and international obligations.
CNS also reported that nine Cubans were repatriated to Havana on Friday, February 13, bringing the total number of migrants returned from that territory to 13 for the year 2026, with another 23 still in custody.
These migration developments in third countries, happening precisely between the first and second U.S. deportation flights, add to the uncertainty regarding the breakdown of the 302 cases reported by the Ministry of the Interior.
Migratory Closure of 2025 in Numbers
On December 18, 2025, 128 migrants (106 men, 21 women, and a minor) were deported.
Previously, on November 20, a flight carried 139 deportees, and on November 6, another with 232, marking the largest operation since the resumption of ICE flights in 2023.
These three flights alone accounted for 499 deportations.
After the December 18 flight, the official total under the current U.S. administration rose to 4,883 Cuban migrants deported in 12 coordinated flights with Havana.
Additionally, the December statement mentioned the planned return of six migrants intercepted at sea, which would raise the 2025 total to 1,669; however, it was not officially confirmed if this return occurred, leaving those six cases pending public verification.
Details on Cuban Migrant Deportations
How many Cuban migrants were deported from the U.S. in the first two months of 2026?
A total of 302 Cuban migrants were deported from the United States to Cuba during the first two months of 2026.
What notable event occurred during the Radiance of the Seas cruise?
The cruise ship Radiance of the Seas rescued six individuals adrift in a small boat in the western Caribbean, off the Cuban coast, on February 15, 2026.