Attorney Urges Public to Remember Thousands of Cubans Stuck Waiting for Visas

Tens of thousands of Cubans remain stranded on the island, waiting for visas that never seem to arrive, despite having approved family petitions and assigned visa numbers. This situation was highlighted by immigration attorney Willy Allen during a live broadcast with host Tania Costa.

Allen emphasized that these individuals have been waiting between six and seven years, having chosen the legal path to emigrate, only to find that route now blocked due to executive actions from the Trump administration.

"In Cuba, we have people who have been waiting for 6 or 7 years, already possessing numbers to legally enter as adult children of American citizens or adult children of residents, and who have put their lives on hold to legally emigrate to the United States," the attorney pointed out.

The Origins of the Visa Stalemate

The root of this impasse can be traced back to a series of overlapping measures. Presidential Proclamation 10998, signed in December 2025, suspended all immigrant visas for Cuban citizens outside the U.S., affecting family reunification categories such as spouses, minor children, unmarried adult children, married children, and parents of U.S. citizens.

This was compounded by the suspension of non-immigrant visas in June 2025, the closure of the Cuban Family Reunification Program in January 2026, and a formal pause on the issuance of immigrant visas decreed by the State Department that same month. Although a federal judge overturned this pause in August 2026, deeming it illegal, the Department of State once again suspended all immigrant visa appointments worldwide days later, citing the need for officials to undergo training.

Political Accountability

Allen did not shy away from pointing out the political responsibility. "There are tens of thousands who stayed in Cuba to emigrate correctly and legally, following the required procedures, but are stranded because this government has, through executive action, shut down the visa rights in Havana."

The attorney also criticized the public discourse for neglecting this issue. "There is not enough talk about the suffering, the family separation, of those who are doing things the right way," he stated, directly addressing the U.S. Secretary of State. "We have a Secretary of State who should understand the impact, the suffering, and the family separation."

Host Tania Costa acknowledged this oversight. "Yes, it’s true we don’t talk much about this. We have normalized the situation, and it is not normal."

Comparisons with Other Immigration Debates

This issue starkly contrasts with the ongoing media saga: the case of 992 Cubans with Form I-220A, whose class-action lawsuit continues under federal judge Jacqueline Becerra. Allen affirmed his support for this cause but insisted it should not overshadow those waiting in Cuba. "I support legalizing the I-220As and fully back them, and I believe it will happen, but there are tens of thousands who stayed in Cuba to emigrate correctly," he stressed.

According to the official website of the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba is subject to Proclamation 10998, which can prevent the issuance or admission of visas even when consular processing has occurred, leaving thousands of families in a seemingly inescapable limbo.

The plaintiffs in the I-220A case have until October 23 to respond to the government's new motion to dismiss their lawsuit, while the stranded Cubans in Cuba continue waiting without a set date or certainty of when they might reunite with their families.

The visa process and immigration decisions impacting thousands of Cubans change frequently. Follow all updates in our U.S. Immigration section to stay informed about every development.