ICE Arrests Multiply, Green Cards Diminish

ICE arrests of Cuban citizens have increased nearly fivefold through Trump’s second term while green card approvals have slowed to almost zero, according to a CATO Institute report. 

​The study shows how Cubans, especially those who arrived in the U.S. legally under Biden, have fallen victim to a “concerted targeting" by the Trump administration, which has removed pathways for them to remain legally in the U.S.

Unlike immigrants from other countries in Latin America, Cubans have long enjoyed privileges in the U.S. under the Cuban Adjustment Act, which has allowed them to apply for residency a year and a day after their legal arrival in the country.

But those privileges have been largely stripped under Trump.

Hundreds of thousands of Cubans have seen their legal status and work permits revoked since last year. Many remain at risk of deportation while almost 2,000 have already been returned to Cuba since January 2025.