Full Breakdown
Cuban Green Card Approvals Plummet as ICE Arrests Surge Under Trump Administration
4/29/2026, 5:12:35 AM
Sharp Decline in Cuban Permanent Residency
Under President Donald Trump, USCIS green-card approvals for Cubans fell from over 10,000 in October 2024 to about 15 by January 2026—a 99.8 % decline leaving thousands of applications pending.
Policy Changes Behind the Surge in ICE Arrests
The administration halted immigration-benefit processing for Cuba, ended Temporary Protected Status and the CHNV parole program, and suspended status adjustments, asylum and naturalization. ICE arrests of Cubans rose from under 200 per month in late 2024 to over 1,000 per month by late 2025, a 463 % increase.
Key Statistics
Cuban green-card approvals fell 99.8 % (10,000->15). ICE arrests rose 463 % (<200->>1,000 per month). Family-based approvals dropped 54 % (Jul 2025–Jan 2026); refugee approvals fell 99 % despite higher applications. Cato estimates up to one million Cubans may be affected.
Government Explanation
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said USCIS is applying the highest verification and screening to foreign nationals from high-risk countries and reviewing any person who poses a threat, per the president’s proclamation.
Opposition and Community Response
A Miami Herald poll of South Florida Cuban Americans found 68 % disapprove of increased deportations of undocumented Cubans without criminal records, while many support migration pathways. Critics argue the freeze creates a limbo that undermines the Cuban Adjustment Act’s protections.
Individual Experiences
Rosa, a Cuban who arrived in South Florida, said, “I filed my paperwork, but everything has stalled. This uncertainty is agonizing.” She added, “I cannot return to Cuba because it is unlivable; there is no electricity, food is impossible to find, and I am supporting my siblings.” José Miguel Suri Hernández entered in 2024, saw his parole expire, had his green-card application suspended for seven months, and was detained by ICE despite a pending adjustment of status.
Conflicting Data Points
Most sources agree on the decline, but some describe the approval drop as occurring by the end of 2025, while others refer to “the end of last year” without specifying the year. Arrest figures are uniformly reported as exceeding 1,000 per month, though monthly totals vary across outlets.
Quotes
- “The slowdown in processing residency applications is part of a broader strategy to deport or otherwise force immigrants to leave the United States.” — David J. Bier, Director of Immigration Studies, Cato Institute
- “USCIS is ensuring that all foreign nationals from high-risk countries are subjected to the highest possible levels of verification and screening.” — Department of Homeland Security spokesperson
- “I filed my paperwork, but everything has stalled. This uncertainty is agonizing.” — Rosa, Cuban immigrant, South Florida
- “This is a dramatic curtailing of immigration from Cuba.” — David J. Bier, Cato Institute
Legal and Political Outlook
In December 2025, a Maryland federal judge ordered USCIS to resume green-card processing for a group of plaintiffs, potentially extending to other Cubans. The enforcement surge is influencing Florida’s 2026 midterm races, with Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) stressing a more moderate immigration stance.
