A new report from the New York Times shows Cuban deportations from Florida accelerating under Donald Trump’s second term, leaving many Cuban families stunned by an outcome they did not expect, even after years of hardline campaign promises.
Federal data cited by the Times shows more than 1,600 Cubans were deported in 2025 alone, more than double the number removed in 2024, the final year of Joe Biden’s presidency. The increase marks a sharp shift for a community that historically saw deportation protections as almost untouchable, especially in South Florida.
Many people online pointed out that the deported individuals were not citizens and therefore could not have voted for Trump. Still, many took the opportunity to point out that their families did. The political backdrop is hard to ignore. A Florida International University poll conducted ahead of the 2024 election found 68 percent of Cuban American voters in Miami-Dade County backed Trump. Reporting from NBC put statewide Cuban American support at roughly 70 percent.
Meanwhile, policy changes have continued to narrow legal pathways. In 2025, the administration restricted certain Cuban visas, ended a family reunification program, and paused most Cuban immigration applications.
“It’s the most sweeping rollback of Cuban migration channels since the Cold War,” said María José Espinosa Carrillo of the Center for Democracy in the Americas.
