The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) revealed on Wednesday the deportation of Cuban national Luis Álvarez García, who had been convicted in the United States for attempted murder and cocaine possession. This deportation is highlighted as a significant outcome of agreements with Cuba regarding the repatriation of nationals with criminal records.
ICE shared on its social media platform X that Álvarez García had been living under supervised release for years. This situation arose because the Cuban regime consistently refused to accept many of the so-called "Mariel Cubans," even after they had served their prison sentences in the U.S.
"Álvarez García was under an ICE supervision order because he was released from prison and Cuba was not accepting Mariel Cubans back," the agency stated.
ICE credited the change in deportation circumstances to diplomatic efforts led by the Trump administration.
"Thanks to President Trump's diplomatic endeavors, criminal Cubans like Álvarez García are finally being sent back home, which is exactly where he is headed," they asserted.
Years of Unresolved Deportations Due to Lack of Cooperation
Álvarez García entered the United States during the Mariel boatlift, a mass migration event between April and October 1980, when over 125,000 Cubans fled from the port of Mariel to Florida.
Upon completing his sentence, Álvarez García was placed under ICE's supervision order (form I-220B). This system mandates that foreigners with deportation orders report regularly to immigration authorities when their removal cannot proceed due to their home country's refusal to accept them.
For decades, many Cubans from the Mariel exodus faced similar challenges, with their deportations stalled due to a lack of cooperation from Havana.
Policy Shift and Rising Deportation Numbers
The situation began to shift on February 9, 2026, when Cuba agreed to receive a deportation flight for the first time, which included numerous individuals convicted of serious crimes in the U.S. This flight carried 170 Cubans, including at least 50 with criminal records, marking a pivotal moment in bilateral migration cooperation.
Since then, deportation numbers have steadily increased. In the first half of 2026 alone, 740 Cubans were sent back to the island in 25 repatriation flights.
Since deportation flights resumed in April 2023, a total of 3,142 Cuban nationals have been returned to Cuba via 32 flights, according to official statistics from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Cuba's Ministry of the Interior.
There has been a notable rise in deportations during Trump's second term. During the Biden administration, 19 flights deported 978 Cubans, whereas the first 18 months of Trump's current term have seen 18 direct flights with 2,164 repatriations.
At the same time, ICE arrests of Cuban migrants surged by 463% between late 2024 and early 2026, based on official data. Presently, there are over 42,000 Cuban nationals in the U.S. with final deportation orders awaiting execution.
Frequently Asked Questions on Cuban Deportations
What led to the increased deportations of Cuban nationals?
The increase in deportations is attributed to renewed diplomatic efforts and agreements between the U.S. and Cuba, particularly under the Trump administration, which allowed the repatriation of Cubans with criminal records.
How many Cubans have been deported since 2023?
Since the resumption of deportation flights in April 2023, a total of 3,142 Cuban nationals have been deported in 32 flights.
What is the Mariel boatlift?
The Mariel boatlift was a mass migration event in 1980, during which over 125,000 Cubans fled to the United States from the port of Mariel in Cuba.