Nearly 12,000 Cubans Deported Under Trump's Two Terms

Throughout his two presidential terms, Donald Trump has deported nearly 12,000 Cubans, according to an analysis of U.S. government data and records from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

This figure emerged from a fact-check published by PolitiFact after Florida State Representative Angie Nixon, a Democrat, claimed that Trump had deported "more than 13,000 Cubans" during both his presidencies.

Although the exact number of 13,000 couldn't be confirmed, the most reliable data available suggests the total is close to that figure.

Deportations During Trump’s First Term

Between 2017 and 2021, during Trump's initial term, approximately 3,400 Cuban citizens were deported, based on data from the U.S. Homeland Security Statistics Office cited by PolitiFact.

Escalation in the Second Term

While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or ICE has yet to publish a comprehensive report for the second term, estimates from Human Rights Watch, as cited by PolitiFact, suggest that around 8,500 Cubans had been deported by August 5, 2026. This estimate was derived from ICE data obtained through a FOIA request by the UCLA Deportation Data Project.

Combined, these figures result in approximately 11,900 deported Cubans, a number PolitiFact rounds to nearly 12,000, which may have increased since August.

Deportations to Third Countries

A significant portion of these deportees were not sent directly back to Cuba. Between January 20, 2025, and March 9, 2026, the U.S. deported nearly 13,000 people from various nations to Mexico, with 4,353 being Cubans—the largest nationality within that group.

This strategy of using third countries facilitated the removal of Cubans who had remained in the U.S. for years with final deportation orders, largely due to challenges in securing their return to Havana.

Besides Mexico, Cubans were also sent to countries such as Liberia, Equatorial Guinea, Guyana, and Eswatini under similar agreements.

Impact and Reactions

In April, immigration attorney Willy Allen noted that available records at that time indicated a total of 5,286 Cubans deported during Trump’s two terms, including 1,901 since January 2025. Allen highlighted that not all Cubans faced the same level of risk, emphasizing those with final deportation orders, criminal records, or denied asylum cases as more vulnerable, compared to many immigrants with ongoing processes.

Allen also pointed out that more than 42,000 Cubans had received final deportation orders in the U.S., but having an order does not necessarily mean immediate execution.

Since then, Mexico has increasingly been used as a destination for Cuban deportees. Human Rights Watch reported that some deported individuals had lived in the U.S. for decades, ending up in Mexico without family ties or a clear immigration status.

One case drawing attention involves Wayne DeMario, a Miami-Dade businessman who voted for Trump in 2024. He lamented the deportation of his Cuban partner, Yamile Alcantu, to Mexico, where she had lived for nearly 25 years in the U.S. Alcantu had a 2008-related deportation order and was detained by ICE in June 2025, eventually being deported to Mexico. DeMario expressed his regret, stating, "If I had voted Democrat, I wouldn't have lost my wife," criticizing the immigration policies affecting his family.

Judicial and Enforcement Developments

Between October 2025 and June 2026, over 4,000 Cubans received deportation orders in Florida alone, with Cuba ranking among the top four nationalities for such orders. In June, more than 1,600 Cubans were ordered deported across the U.S., though these judicial decisions do not necessarily equate to executed deportations, as ICE is responsible for carrying out the removals.

The Trump administration has also increased arrests of Cubans with pending orders. Recently, ICE announced new detentions of Cubans with final deportation orders in Florida, some with criminal backgrounds.

The deportation of Cubans under Trump's administration reflects an evolving immigration landscape. Stay updated with all the latest developments in our U.S. Immigration section.