On Tuesday, writer Enrique Enrisco expressed his sorrow over the deportation of a Cuban neighbor who had been residing in the United States for five years. Enrisco described him as "serious and hardworking." "Today I found out that a neighbor has been deported. He's from Placetas. He lived in this country for over five years with his wife and two children. A serious, hardworking guy. I can attest to that: he was the one who installed my kitchen floor," Enrisco shared in a Facebook post.
The Cuban intellectual and professor based in New York noted that his deported neighbor "currently seems to have no option but to survive in Cuba, separated from his wife and children." He added, "I'm not writing this to debate anyone. In fact, if anyone tries to justify this, I'll block them on this wall. I'm tired of seeing people applaud the suffering of others," concluding his post emphatically.
In the comments section of his post, several individuals lamented the dire situation faced by honest people from various nationalities who are being deported from the U.S. "I'm so sorry, we're broken. A friend of my cousins, with I-220 A and barely 22 years old, working like an animal, was also deported. This is no longer a game. It's rampant fascism. If there was no crime or due process, there's nothing to debate," wrote professor Mabel Cuesta.
Journalist Wilfredo Cancio Isla criticized the fact that some Cubans are currently applauding the misfortunes of their fellow countrymen. "It's simply outrageous that some of our compatriots in the South Florida community are applauding the misfortune of their own people. I've been in this country for over 30 years and never have I witnessed such lack of compassion and solidarity towards our own. They speak as if we don't recognize each other," Cancio Isla remarked.
Another user shared that a Mexican friend's grandfather was taken away in front of his children and grandchildren in a Walmart parking lot due to a decades-old DUI record that had previously prevented him from obtaining legal papers. "Today, ICE also detained one of my clients. He has two little girls and his wife here. He had been here for over 20 years. It happened this morning, and we haven't heard from him since. What a horror we're living in!" revealed another account.
The conversation also turned to the perceived injustice of deporting individuals without criminal records just to meet quotas and fulfill political promises. "It's irrational and unfair. Deporting convicted criminals or proven repressors is one thing, but deporting just anyone to meet quotas is entirely different," one commenter opined.
Amidst the discussion, legitimate questions arose regarding the deportee's immigration status and the reasoning behind the deportation. "In five years, there's time to legalize his situation," one user suggested. However, Enrisco did not provide further details about the specific immigration circumstances of the deported Cuban.
Some pointed to the slow-moving system and noted that recent changes in asylum policies have made the process increasingly difficult. Not everyone was against deportations, though, leading to heated debates. "They can go to Cuba or Nicaragua where they can enjoy the consequences of Kamala's government. We endured while you remained silent for four years amid betrayal, theft, and impunity. We're here because we allowed our countries to become a mess. I don't understand why we want to turn the country that gives us a second chance into the same mess," Leonardo Calvo stated.
Another supporter of deportations questioned, "Why weren't there daily reports and these outrages when Obama broke all the deportation records? [...] He just deported them quietly."
Deportation Trends Since Trump's Presidency
Since Donald Trump took office on January 20, there have been reports of only two deportation flights for Cubans: one with 104 deportees on February 27 and another with 60 migrants sent back to the island on March 27. However, the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) mentioned a third flight—actually the first—conducted on January 23, which was not covered by official media. In early March, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, Cuba's Deputy Foreign Minister, denied that the Trump administration had addressed the migration issue or a potential increase in island deportations with the Cuban government at that time.
"There has been no such request from the U.S. government. We haven't sat down to discuss whether that would be possible," the senior official stated in comments carried by Reuters. Migration negotiations between the two countries have seen ups and downs over the years. The last bilateral meeting between Cuba and the U.S. on migration took place in December 2024, before the start of President Donald Trump's second term.
Currently, the situation remains perplexing. Measures adopted by Trump since assuming office have rendered approximately 550,000 Cubans deportable.
Questions About Cuban Deportations
What are the reasons behind the deportation of the Cuban man?
Enrique Enrisco did not provide specific details about the circumstances of the deported Cuban man's immigration status in his post.
How has the Trump administration affected Cuban deportations?
Since Donald Trump assumed office, measures have been adopted that have rendered around 550,000 Cubans deportable.
What challenges do deportees face upon returning to Cuba?
Deportees often face the challenge of surviving in Cuba, isolated from family members who remain in the United States.