Cuban passengers who planned to travel to Nicaragua with a stopover in Caracas, Venezuela, protested at the entrance of José Martí International Airport in Havana after their flight was canceled without prior notice.
In a video shared by Cuban-American journalist Mario J. Pentón, several Cubans can be seen demanding answers from authorities who stood silently with their arms crossed, offering no explanation or solution for the canceled flight.
According to the video, many of the passengers had purchased their tickets through a travel agency, which apparently had no representatives present at the airport.
"The regimes of Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua have made billions from illegal migration to the United States," Pentón commented in the description of his video posted on social media platform X.
Pentón mentioned that the video was sent to him from Havana and shows "a group of passengers demanding to be boarded on a Venezuelan airline flight from Havana to Caracas to Managua. Everyone knows they won't be returning. The mass exodus has been a political weapon against the U.S. used by dictatorships in the hemisphere for decades."
Since May 5th, the Venezuelan airline has increased flights departing from Caracas to Managua, with a stop in Havana. This increase in flights benefits Cubans traveling as couriers to Venezuela and also serves as an escape route for Cuban migrants using Nicaragua as a transit point to reach the United States.
Monthly data published by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) revealed that 18,988 Cubans arrived in the United States in May, most crossing the land border from Mexico. The figures indicate that 11,466 Cubans entered via the southern U.S. border, while only 31 crossed the northern border with Canada, matching the number from the previous month. The remaining 7,491 arrived by sea.
Recently, South Korean TikToker Lim Jae Jun shared his unusual experience on a flight from Managua to Caracas, where he was the only passenger on board.
Details on the Canceled Flight and Cuban Migration
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about the canceled flight and the ongoing migration issues affecting Cubans.
Why was the flight from Havana to Nicaragua canceled?
The specific reasons for the cancellation were not provided by the authorities. Passengers found out about the cancellation upon arriving at the airport.
How are Cuban migrants using Nicaragua to reach the United States?
Many Cuban migrants travel to Nicaragua as a transit point, from where they journey through Central America and Mexico to reach the U.S. border.
What has been the U.S. response to the increased Cuban migration?
The U.S. has been closely monitoring the situation and has implemented various measures to manage and process the influx of migrants.