DeSantis: Cuban Exiles Should Return to Rebuild the Island

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis revealed that his state has a plan to manage potential mass migration from Cuba if the island’s government collapses, but expressed his hope that the migration flow would run in the opposite direction: that Cuban exiles in Florida return to Cuba to help rebuild the country.

During a “fireside chat” with former U.S. Senator George LeMieux at Palm Beach Atlantic University on March 25, DeSantis shared his vision of a post-Castro Cuba and Florida’s contingency plans for different migration scenarios.

The Dream of Return

“I would love to see some of the folks here, who grew up in Cuba and had to flee, go back and help create a potentially prosperous life,” DeSantis declared, adding that “the Trump administration agrees with us” on this vision.

Currently, nearly a million Cuban exiles live in Florida, with the largest concentration in Miami-Dade County. This population has been built over six decades of successive waves of exile since the 1959 Revolution.

The governor did not specify what it would mean for the region if a significant portion of this population, deeply rooted in Florida’s economic and political life, decided to return to Cuba.

Tourism Vision of a Free Cuba

DeSantis predicted that a free Cuba would quickly become an American tourist destination, based on his experience as a naval officer stationed at Guantanamo Naval Base.

“Your kids and grandkids will be going on spring break there,” DeSantis predicted. “They’ll be going on honeymoons there. They’ll be doing golf trips.”

The governor described the Cuban coastline as “very pretty” and maintained that the island wouldn’t need much to succeed: only basic rule of law and a government that isn’t “100% corrupt.”

Undisclosed Contingency Plans

Although DeSantis confirmed that Florida has contingency plans to handle potential mass migration from Cuba, he offered no details about what this plan would involve if migration flowed in the traditional direction toward Florida.

Concern about potential migration crisis has been a constant among state and federal officials, especially given Cuba’s current context.

Energy Crisis and Regional Tensions

DeSantis’s comments come as Cuba faces what some analysts describe as its worst economic crisis since the fall of the Soviet Union.

The Trump administration cut off oil shipments to the island after the U.S. operation that removed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January, Cuba’s primary oil supplier. The island has suffered three major nationwide blackouts in the past four months, and its electrical grid—built around Soviet-era infrastructure—has become increasingly unreliable.

Trump has said that regime change in Cuba would be “next” after the U.S. war against Iran concludes, telling Latin American leaders at Mar-a-Lago this month that “Cuba’s at the end of the line.”

Background: The Internet Balloon Case

DeSantis recalled the 2021 anti-government uprising in Cuba, when authorities cut internet service across the island to suppress protests sparked by food and medicine shortages and the government’s COVID-19 response.

The governor revealed he negotiated with a private company to fly hot-air balloons over the island and broadcast internet access to civilians, an effort he said the Biden administration killed by threatening the company’s federal business license.

“I thought that was a huge missed opportunity to be able to help those people seize their own destiny and move in a direction of freedom,” DeSantis commented.

He did not specify whether he resumed efforts to aid the island under the Trump administration.

Implications for the Cuban Community

DeSantis’s proposal raises complex questions for Florida’s Cuban community, which has developed deep economic, political, and cultural roots during decades of exile.

Many Cuban-Americans maintain the dream of return, but the practical reality of rebuilding a country devastated by decades of authoritarian government and economic embargo presents enormous challenges.

The governor’s vision also reflects a particular perspective on Cuba’s future that assumes not only regime change, but also the diaspora’s willingness and capacity to lead national reconstruction.

Community Reactions

So far, no official reactions from Cuban-American organizations to DeSantis’s comments have been recorded. However, the proposal will surely generate debate within a community that, although united in its opposition to the Castro regime, maintains diverse perspectives on its future in the United States versus Cuba.

The statement also comes at a time when Florida faces its own migration pressure, with more immigration arrests made in the state in 2025 than in any other except Texas, according to recent reports.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Cuban exiles currently live in Florida?

According to DeSantis, nearly a million Cuban exiles currently live in Florida, with the largest concentration in Miami-Dade County. This population has developed over six decades of migration since 1959.

What contingency plans does Florida have for mass migration from Cuba?

DeSantis confirmed that Florida has contingency plans to handle potential mass migration from Cuba, but did not reveal specific details about what these plans would involve.

Why does DeSantis believe Cubans should return to Cuba?

The governor expressed that he prefers to see Cuban exiles return to help rebuild a free Cuba, rather than manage a new wave of refugees. He considers their experience could be valuable for the island’s development.

What is the current situation with Cuba’s energy crisis?

Cuba has suffered three major nationwide blackouts in the past four months due to cuts in Venezuelan oil supplies by the Trump administration. The electrical infrastructure, based on Soviet technology, is increasingly unreliable.

What happened to the internet balloon plan for Cuba in 2021?

During the 2021 protests, DeSantis negotiated with a private company to provide internet to Cuba via hot-air balloons, but the Biden administration allegedly stopped the plan by threatening the company’s federal license.

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For more information on Cuban migration and Florida policies, explore our related articles on ICE and deportations, Supreme Court decisions, and DHS budget crisis.