Breaking News: Trump administration breaks off migration agreement with Cuba

The suspension of bilateral talks cuts off the only official channel of migration contact between the two countries. Fears of harsher measures from the White House are growing.

The Donald Trump administration has decided to indefinitely pause immigration talks with the Cuban government, which traditionally took place twice a year.

The roundtable scheduled for April in Havana has no date and is no longer among the State Department's priorities.

"The United States will no longer engage with the Cuban regime for the sake of engagement and endless dialogue," declared a senior official, in a statement that sums up the radical shift Washington has taken since Trump returned to the White House.

The talks were resumed by the Biden administration in 2022, after being suspended by Trump in 2018. The last one took place in December 2024 in Havana, amid demands from Washington regarding human rights and irregular migration.

Now, the suspension means the closure of the only remaining channel of official contact between the two countries, which served to coordinate deportation operations, prevent human trafficking, and stem migration flows.

Deportations, flights on hold, and 42.000 Cubans in limbo

Among the most sensitive issues affected by this disruption are Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation flights, which had been resumed in April 2023. As of March of this year, 24 flights had been conducted, and 1.152 people had been returned.

However, Cuba has refused to accept Cubans with criminal records or those who have been in the United States for a long time, leaving more than 42.000 people with final deportation orders on supervised release.

Some have been transferred to detention centers in Louisiana or New Mexico. Immigration pressure on these individuals is increasing, with more frequent raids, arrests of those with pending cases, and fears that some could even be sent to Guantanamo Bay.

A red list on the horizon

In this context, unconfirmed reports have emerged about the possible creation of a "red list" of countries, including Cuba, whose entry into the United States would be restricted. This list includes not only Cuban citizens residing on the island, but also those already living in the United States, whether with residency or parole.

Fear among Cuban families in Florida is growing, especially after government officials, members of Congress, and conservative groups began pushing for more severe measures, such as freezing remittances and family travel.

One of the most active has been Congressman Carlos Giménez, who has publicly called on the administration to cut off remittances and halt all flights to the island, arguing that money and travel support the regime financially.

The case of María Elvira and the “immoral” trips

For her part, Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar has intensified her campaign against what she calls "double immigration standards." She has criticized Cubans who seek asylum in the United States, claiming persecution.cucion, but then they travel on vacation to Cuba.

"You can't come here saying you're being followed and then go to Varadero to have a mojito.", she said in a recent public address. For her, this type of behavior discredits the asylum process and warrants stricter review of these cases.

These types of statements coincide with the tightening of policies by the Department of Homeland Security, which has increased consular controls and vetting interviews, especially for nonimmigrant visa applications from Cuba.

Statistics that reflect the change

Data from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirms a change of course. Only 282 Cubans entered the United States illegally in February and March. 2025, compared to a monthly average of almost 8.000 at the start of the fiscal year.

At the same time, the number of visas approved at the U.S. Embassy in Havana has also decreased. In February, only 1.172 visas were issued, mostly for IR-5 family claims and backlogged visa lottery cases.

Trump's immigration policy not only aims to limit the entry of new migrants, but also to review the backgrounds of those already in the country. This includes investigations into false asylum applications and ties to the Communist Party or the Cuban government.

The door closes, but the exodus continues

Despite the restrictions, the economic and social crisis in Cuba continues unabated. Thousands of people continue to search for a way out, now in a much more hostile environment and with fewer legal avenues available.

Migration talks were a key tool for regulating these flows and maintaining a degree of cooperation between governments. Their freezing leaves thousands of families in limbo and brings the prospect of a larger migration conflict closer.