Nearly 19,000 Cubans Crossed into the U.S. through Borders in May 2024

Nearly 19,000 Cubans entered the United States through its borders last May, according to the monthly data published by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The data, extracted from CBP's active systems and data sources, indicate that 18,988 Cubans arrived on U.S. soil in the fifth month of the year, mostly through the land border separating the country from Mexico.

The figures indicate that about 11,466 Cubans arrived through the U.S. southern border, while only 31 entered through the northern border with Canada, matching the number of entries through that area from the previous month. The rest, 7,491, arrived by sea.

The total number of encounters with irregular Cuban migrants at U.S. borders increased in May compared to April, when CBP statistics showed 17,875 arrivals, the lowest in the fiscal year 2024, which began on October 1. Overall, this adds up to a total of 163,376 arrivals since October.

CBP also reported that as of May 2024, 100,500 Cubans were authorized to travel to the United States "in a safe, orderly, and legal manner," thanks to the humanitarian parole program implemented by the administration of President Joe Biden since January 2023. This figure is part of the more than 462,100 Haitians, Nicaraguans, Venezuelans, and Cubans who arrived legally on commercial flights and were granted parole under these processes, which provide up to 30,000 visas monthly for these nationalities.

“Specifically, approximately 100,500 Cubans, 193,400 Haitians, 87,800 Nicaraguans, and 113,400 Venezuelans were examined and authorized to travel,” the document states. However, it clarifies that of these, approximately 98,200 Cubans, 177,100 Haitians, 80,700 Nicaraguans, and 106,100 Venezuelans arrived legally and were granted parole.

These data clearly indicate that the Cuban migration crisis remains unstoppable amid deteriorating living conditions on the Island.