In Washington, Cuban-American Senator Marco Rubio stated that deporting over 300,000 Cubans currently in the United States under the I-220A immigration status is an impossible task. "It's impossible to deport more than 300,000 Cubans with I-220A simply because there's no place to accept them, and if you do, they will come back," Rubio asserted in an interview with Telemundo 51.
The senator placed the blame for the migration crisis squarely on the Cuban regime, describing the situation as "chaotic." He emphasized that repression, poverty, lack of freedom, and dire conditions have pushed thousands of young Cubans to leave in search of better opportunities. Rubio argued that the migration issues in the U.S. would be alleviated if authoritarian regimes in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua were dismantled.
Impact of Authoritarian Regimes
"If there weren't a criminal group in power in Venezuela and the Castro regime hadn't driven out all the young people, the migration problem in this country would be reduced by 60%," said the Florida senator.
The Legal Limbo of I-220A
The I-220A document places many Cubans in a legal limbo in the United States. It is a provisional release order issued by authorities after detaining these migrants at the border. This status does not allow them to apply for residency, nor can they benefit from the Cuban Adjustment Act or humanitarian parole.
This issue has gained more attention following recent remarks by former President Donald Trump, who pledged to eliminate the humanitarian parole program established by the Biden administration in January 2023 if he wins the 2024 presidential election. Although Rubio is a Republican and close to Trump, he highlighted the impracticality of deporting hundreds of thousands of Cubans to a country that cannot accommodate them.
Ongoing Uncertainty for Cubans with I-220A
The situation remains uncertain for Cubans with I-220A, as the immigration debate heats up in the run-up to the next U.S. presidential elections. Among Cubans residing in the United States, holding an I-220A case has become a symbol of waiting and vulnerability. Former broadcaster Alejandro Quintana noted that these are immigrants looking to contribute and thrive despite the obstacles and social stigma they face.
In August, Cuban-American congresswoman María Elvira Salazar sent an encouraging message to Cuban migrants with I-220A, reaffirming her commitment to helping them obtain residency through the Cuban Adjustment Act.