The projections have finally materialized, and 2024 is on track to become the second fiscal year with the highest influx of Cubans at the U.S. southern border, with over 208,000 asylum seekers. Data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reveals the arrival of 208,308 Cubans at U.S. border points until August of the current fiscal year (FY 2024), which began in October 2023 and ends this September.
This figure confirms the trend observed since April (mid-FY 2024), when the data showed a higher influx compared to the months of January, February, and March 2023. As the fiscal year draws to a close, December stands out as the month with the most encounters of Cubans at U.S. border points, with 25,048 recorded.
Compared to 2023 (200,287 asylum applications), the current fiscal year has shown a relatively stable flow of Cuban migrants to the United States, with August being the month with the least activity (11,744 encounters). The difference is notable compared to the previous fiscal year, during which the first quarter (October, November, and December) saw a high flow of Cuban migrants that declined in the following months. While 44,079 island migrants arrived at border points in December, the number fell to 6,534 in February.
Cuban Migrant Trends in 2024
The graph prepared by CBP indicates that the trend in 2024 of Cuban migration towards the United States has been declining. From the peak reached in December, the curve has started to drop progressively until August, which does not prevent the total number of encounters from being the second highest since 2021.
It's noteworthy the number of Cubans intercepted by authorities at sea or on U.S. coasts by the end of the current fiscal year: 65,911. This number is obtained by subtracting the total number of encounters (208,308) from those at the northern border (362) and the southern border (142,035).
Also striking is the number of 'Family Unit Aliens (FMUA)' recorded so far this year (69,187), the highest since 2021. The current fiscal year also records the highest number of accompanied minors at border points (650).
A late August report from the Missing Migrants Project of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) revealed that the dangerous maritime journey from Cuba to the United States has claimed the lives of at least 142 rafters so far in 2024.
The data shows that the crisis in Cuba continues to trigger a massive and irregular exodus from the island to the United States, despite the Biden administration's efforts to channel this flow through legal routes such as humanitarian parole.
To the 208,308 Cubans intercepted at the borders during the current fiscal year, one must add those who arrived in the United States thanks to the humanitarian parole implemented by the Biden administration. It is estimated that from the start of the program in 2023 until July 2024, about 110,000 Cubans were examined and authorized to travel, adding approximately 50,000 more Cubans to the 208,308, resulting in a total close to a quarter of a million Cubans emigrating via different routes to the United States during FY 2024.
In mid-April, on the eve of the 38th Round of Cuba-U.S. Migration Talks in Washington, the Havana regime acknowledged that the current migration crisis is "the largest in Cuba's history," but blamed the United States for its pressure policies and for encouraging Cuban migration with "extraordinary and artificial incentives."
For their part, U.S. authorities repeatedly remind that the borders are not open to people without a legal basis to enter the country, and that those who attempt to do so irregularly will be subject to expulsion under Title 8.
Key Questions About Cuban Asylum Seekers in 2024
As the migration crisis continues to escalate, many are seeking answers to some of the most pressing questions about the influx of Cuban asylum seekers in the U.S. Here are some key questions and answers that shed light on this issue.
Why is there a significant increase in Cuban asylum seekers in 2024?
The increase is largely attributed to the ongoing crisis in Cuba, which has forced many to flee in search of better opportunities and safety in the United States.
What measures has the Biden administration taken to address this migration issue?
The Biden administration has implemented humanitarian parole programs to provide legal pathways for Cuban migrants, aiming to manage the flow more effectively and reduce irregular entries.
How many Cubans have benefited from the humanitarian parole program?
Since the start of the program in 2023 until July 2024, approximately 110,000 Cubans have been examined and authorized to travel to the United States under this program.
What are the risks associated with the maritime journey from Cuba to the U.S.?
The dangerous maritime journey has resulted in the deaths of at least 142 Cuban rafters in 2024 alone, highlighting the perilous nature of this route.