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Second Deportation Flight to Cuba in 2026: 116 Migrants, 302 Total

The U.S. deports 116 Cubans in the second flight of 2026. With 302 repatriated in two months, the pace far exceeds 2025.

Aroma de Cuba · · 3 min read
Deportation plane on the runway at José Martí Airport in Havana, Cuba

A second deportation flight landed in Havana on February 19, 2026, carrying 116 Cuban migrants, according to Cuba’s Ministry of Interior (MININT). This operation brings the total number of repatriated individuals in 2026 to 302.

The Numbers Behind the Second Flight

The deported group consisted of 88 men and 28 women who arrived at José Martí International Airport in Havana. According to the MININT’s official statement, the operation was carried out “in compliance with bilateral migration agreements” between Cuba and the United States.

This is the second confirmed deportation flight of 2026, following the first flight on February 9 that carried 170 Cubans, including for the first time individuals convicted of serious crimes such as murder, rape, and drug trafficking.

An Unprecedented Pace of Deportations

The figures reveal a significant acceleration:

  • Full year 2025: 1,669 migrants deported to Cuba from the U.S. and other countries
  • January–February 2026: 302 repatriated in just two months
  • Annual projection: at this rate, 2026 deportations could exceed 1,800

The contrast is even more striking considering that all of January 2026 passed without any deportation flights. Both flights were concentrated in February, suggesting an intensification of operations under the current Trump administration immigration policy.

Fewer Arrivals, More Deportations

According to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data, Cuban arrivals to the United States have plummeted:

PeriodCubans Arriving in U.S.
Fiscal Year 2024217,615
Fiscal Year 202533,056

This 85% drop reflects the combined impact of the closure of the Nicaraguan route, the termination of the CHNV humanitarian parole program, and the overall tightening of immigration policies.

The 16 Unaccounted Deportations

A noteworthy detail: while the two confirmed flights total 286 people (170 + 116), the MININT reports 302. The 16 additional cases have not been publicly detailed and may correspond to returns from third countries or maritime interceptions.

Between the two flights, Cuban rafters were rescued in Caribbean waters, including a group rescued by a Royal Caribbean cruise ship and handed over to Cayman Islands authorities.

What This Means for Cubans in the U.S.

With approximately 45,000 Cubans facing pending deportation orders and Havana’s new willingness to accept even individuals with criminal records, the Cuban community in the United States faces an increasingly uncertain landscape.

The class-action lawsuit over I-220A forms affecting nearly 500,000 Cubans could prove decisive in the coming months.

Sources: EFE/Infobae, CiberCuba, ICE, Martí Noticias

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Cubans have been deported from the U.S. in 2026?
According to Cuba's Ministry of Interior, 302 people have been returned from various countries in the first two months of 2026, primarily from the United States.
When was the second deportation flight to Cuba in 2026?
On February 19, 2026. The flight carried 116 irregular migrants (88 men and 28 women) who landed at José Martí International Airport in Havana.
How do 2026 deportations compare to 2025?
In all of 2025, Cuba received 1,669 deported migrants. In just two months of 2026, the count has already reached 302, a pace that would far surpass last year's total.
How many Cubans arrived in the U.S. in fiscal year 2025?
According to CBP, 33,056 Cubans arrived in the U.S. in fiscal year 2025, a dramatic drop from 217,615 in fiscal year 2024.
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