Leidys Milanés Maya, a 29-year-old from Camagüey, Cuba, has been missing in Mexico for over three months following her deportation from the United States.
Her mother, Misleidis Maya Rabí, issued an urgent appeal on Monday through the platforms "Cubanos en el Mundo" and "NiO Reporting a Crime," urging anyone with information regarding her daughter's whereabouts to come forward confidentially.
According to her mother's account shared on social media, Leidys was deported from the United States to Mexico in February 2026. The family briefly reestablished contact, but the last conversation occurred on April 2, when Leidys mentioned she was heading to Cancún, Quintana Roo.
"Since then, the family has heard nothing, leaving them deeply concerned," states a post from "NiO Reporting a Crime."
The Dire Situation of Deported Cubans in Mexico
The plight of Leidys is part of a broader humanitarian crisis impacting thousands of Cubans deported from the United States to Mexico, where they find themselves in a precarious limbo. Unable to return to Cuba, barred from the U.S., and lacking legal status in Mexico, their situation is dire.
Human Rights Watch released a report on May 27, 2026, titled "They Leave Us Here to Die," highlighting that the Trump administration deported nearly 13,000 people, including 4,353 Cubans, to Mexico between January 20, 2025, and March 9, 2026.
Activists estimate about 800 Cubans are stranded in Tapachula, Chiapas, and approximately 3,000 in Villahermosa, Tabasco, though the total number could exceed 6,000. Many attempt to move to tourist destinations like Cancún in search of informal work, but the lack of specialized shelters in Quintana Roo heightens their vulnerability.
High Risk for Cuban Migrants
The HRW report details how deported Cubans frequently face extortion, kidnapping, forced recruitment by cartels, and human trafficking. Josué Leal, who runs a shelter in Villahermosa, bluntly stated, "Migrants are the merchandise of organized crime," as criminals know they have relatives in the U.S. who can send money.
Leidys is not the only Cuban to go missing under such circumstances. In April 2026, Yarissel Díaz Arcia, a 19-year-old Cuban, was reported missing in Tapachula, Chiapas, with an official alert from the State Commission for the Search of Persons.
Earlier, in April 2025, Yasmani Vega López, a 36-year-old Cuban, vanished in Cancún, one of at least six Cubans missing in Quintana Roo since December 2024. In May 2026, mothers and grandmothers of six missing Cubans traveled to Chiapas to conduct a direct search due to the lack of response from Mexican authorities.
The Cuban Migrant Risk Index hit an "extreme" level of 0.80 in April 2026, reporting eight deaths, three disappearances, and 32 detentions in migration events that month.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Leidys Milanés Maya is urged to contact "Cubanos en el Mundo" or "NiO Reporting a Crime" on Facebook and Instagram via private message, where confidentiality is assured.
Frequently Asked Questions about Missing Cubans in Mexico
What is the situation for deported Cubans in Mexico?
Deported Cubans in Mexico often find themselves in a legal limbo, unable to return to Cuba or enter the U.S., and without legal status to reside or work in Mexico.
How many Cubans are affected by deportations to Mexico?
Estimates suggest that there are more than 6,000 Cubans stranded in Mexico, with significant numbers in Tapachula, Chiapas, and Villahermosa, Tabasco.
What risks do deported Cuban migrants face in Mexico?
They are frequently targeted for extortion, kidnapping, forced recruitment by cartels, and human trafficking.