Breaking News: U.S. Embassy updates on family reunification strike, visa restrictions, and border closures for Cubans

The new presidential proclamation signed by Donald Trump takes effect on June 9. It fully or partially suspends visa issuance and entry for citizens of 19 countries, including Cuba.

What the new immigration measure says

The United States Embassy in Cuba confirmed this lunePresident Donald Trump signed a Presidential Proclamation on June 4 imposing new immigration restrictions.

The measure suspends or limits entry and visa issuance to citizens of 19 countries, effective June 9. 2025 at 12:01 am Eastern Time.

The statement, published on social media, clarifies that the suspension may be total or partial, and that very limited exceptions are contemplated.

Cuba under partial suspension

Cuba was included on the list of countries with partial restrictions, along with Venezuela, Laos, Togo, Turkmenistan, Burundi, and Sierra Leone. Among the countries with total restrictions are Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Somalia, Haiti, Libya, Eritrea, among others.

Although the affected visa categories are not publicly detailed, the embassy in Havana refers to the Proclamation Restricting Entry of Aliens, which aims to "protect the United States against terrorist threats and risks to public safety."

Immediate reactions from Cuban families

The publication sparked a wave of reactions among Cubans undergoing migration processes. In particular, there is concerncupincreasing participation among applicants for family reunification visas under the F2A category (spouses and minor children of permanent residents).

One mother commented:
“My F2A case to bring my daughter has already been approved, we're just waiting for an interview. Family reunification can't wait any longer.”

Other users used hashtags such as #PunishedForBeingLegal, #SOSF2A, and #UnitedWithOurChildren, denouncing the measure's impact on those who have chosen legal means to emigrate.

Fear of suspension of family visas

Applicants for categories such as F1, F2B, F3, and F4 also expressed their frustration. Some have waited more than a decade.
“They are separating us as families and treating us like threats when all we want to be with our children or husbands,” wrote another victim.

A father warned:
"My six-year-old son is waiting for his interview in Havana. This suspension destroys years of legal effort."

It was also questioned whether officials linked to the Cuban regime can continue traveling while families such as the Cubans are prevented from entering.unes.
“Will communists with visas still be allowed in, but we won’t?” one user asked.

Criticism of the selective approach to the measure

Several users noted that most terrorist attacks in the United States have been carried out by citizens of the country itself, and questioned why countries like Qatar and Syria are not on the list.

“This isn’t security, it’s political selectivity,” one commented.
“Marriages and children are not a threat,” another comment insisted.

What is known so far

The U.S. Embassy has not yet released a detailed list of the specific categories that remain suspended, but cautions that the proclamation allows for minimal exceptions and that entry into the country is subject to case-by-case review.

Thousands of Cubans are now waiting for decisions on whether their interviews will be canceled or rescheduled. The feeling of uncertainty and abandonment dominates the comments, where pain, hopelessness, and denunciation predominate.