In a recent exclusive interview with CiberCuba, David Jolly, the Democratic hopeful for Florida governor, pledged to pressure the Trump administration to reverse the significant decline in residency approvals under the Cuban Adjustment Act. Jolly also vowed to halt migration cooperation agreements that allow the use of state resources to detain non-criminal immigrants.
The statistics supporting his claims are striking: according to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), approvals under this act plummeted from nearly 50,000 quarterly in 2024 to just 139 in the second quarter of 2026, with over 342,000 cases still pending.
"This president has drastically slowed down the process. In the last quarter, only a few hundred applications were approved, when it should be thousands. That is wrong," stated Jolly, who is challenging Republican Byron Donalds in the general election on November 3, 2026.
The Cuban Adjustment Act and Its Impact on Immigration Debate
The Cuban Adjustment Act and the fate of thousands of pending residencies lie at the heart of the immigration debate. Follow all updates in our Immigration in the U.S. section.
Jolly was straightforward in highlighting that, during the previous administration, tens of thousands of Cubans were able to obtain permanent legal status under the existing legislation, a pathway that has now been virtually obstructed.
Advocating for Cuban Immigrants and Due Process
Regarding Cubans with the I-220A form—hundreds of thousands who fear deportation and have had their applications stalled for years—Jolly appealed to the values he believes Florida should uphold: "These individuals have spent 12 years contributing to the economy, working daily to support their families and ensure their children can learn English and partake in the American dream. We should be a state that honors those values."
On broader immigration matters, the candidate pledged to suspend the 287(g) agreements that utilize state resources to detain individuals based on their language or immigration status. He demanded federal agents present warrants and proper identification, advocating for the right to due process for all state residents.
Florida hosts approximately 295 agencies involved in the 287(g) program, representing 43% of all such agreements nationwide. Miami police reported 451 arrests under these agreements by August 2026; about 131 detainees—nearly 29%—were Cuban.
Challenges in Doral and Criticism of U.S. Foreign Policy
Describing the situation in Doral, Jolly recounted hearing firsthand accounts: "A Venezuelan leader told me it felt like a human hunting ground. Children were scared to go to school, fearing they might return to find their parents had disappeared."
On the subject of Cuba, Jolly was clear: "I want to see the Cuban regime fall. I want to see a free Cuba and a liberated Cuban people." However, he questioned the consistency of Trump's foreign policy, cautioning against risking the health and lives of the Cuban people in pursuit of regime change.
Jolly also criticized the president for previously suggesting American investors engage in the Cuban hotel sector, labeling it as "ignorance" for not recognizing that such actions would support the dictatorship.
In response to his opponent Donalds' socialism accusations, the Democrat countered: "It's Donald Trump and the Republicans who are supporting Delcy in Venezuela and have invited Putin to South Florida in December: a regime that backed Maduro, the Sandinistas, and Castro."
Close Race for Florida Governor
The latest polls in the gubernatorial race show a tight contest: Donalds leads among Cuban-Americans (51%-42%) and across the state (50%-42%), while Jolly is ahead among all Latino voters (48%-43%). A survey released this Wednesday placed the Democrat with a 4.3-point lead over Donalds, within the margin of error of ±4.8 points.
Meanwhile, the class-action lawsuit Bello-Rubio v. Noem, filed by Cubans with I-220A, continues its course in the Southern District of Florida. The plaintiffs filed their opposition to the government's motion to dismiss the case on October 23, 2026.
Understanding the Cuban Adjustment Act and Its Implications
What is the Cuban Adjustment Act?
The Cuban Adjustment Act is a U.S. law that allows Cuban natives or citizens who meet certain eligibility requirements to apply for lawful permanent resident status after one year of residence in the United States.
How has the Trump administration affected the Cuban Adjustment Act?
The Trump administration has significantly slowed the approval process for residency applications under the Cuban Adjustment Act, reducing the number of approvals from tens of thousands to just a few hundred per quarter.
What are the 287(g) agreements?
The 287(g) agreements are collaborations between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and local law enforcement agencies, allowing local officers to perform immigration enforcement duties.