August 28, 2025 — Belly of the Beast
Despite the Trump administration’s openly hostile policy toward the island, Cuba has continued to receive monthly deportation flights from the United States in accordance with a bilateral agreement.
“Our collaboration in these operations is not affected by the state of our relations with the U.S.,” said Lourdes Gil Robaina, an immigration official.
According to Gil Robaina, this latest flight was the eighth this year and the 59th since 2017.
Cuba kept accepting the flights even after the Trump administration unilaterally ended bilateral migration talks that were held regularly under Biden. Meanwhile, Cuban officials who have sought dialogue with the Trump administration have reportedly been snubbed.
“Cuba has the will to talk at any moment,” said Alejandro García del Toro, a representative of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “But in the case of this administration, they have decided not to, so far.”
García del Toro said comments made by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chargé d’Affaires Mike Hammer expressing sympathy for the Cuban people were “hypocritical” given the Trump administration’s Cold War-era policy toward Cuba.
“You cannot impose a harsh blockade on a whole population, and at the same time say that you want the best for the Cuban people,” he said.
