Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused President Donald Trump’s administration of having deported at least 4,353 Cubans to Mexico since January 2025, where many remain “abandoned,” without access to housing, medical care, or a clear path to regularize their immigration status.
In a report titled “They Are Abandoning Us Here to Die,” the organization documented that between January 20, 2025, and March 9, 2026, the United States expelled nearly 13,000 migrants from third countries into Mexican territory; of these, nearly 70% were sent under an “unwritten agreement” between the two governments. Cubans constitute the largest group of deportees.
HRW denounced that many of the deported Cubans had lived for decades in the United States—primarily in Florida—where they established businesses, purchased homes, and raised families before being detained by immigration authorities. The organization noted that the majority are older adults suffering from chronic illnesses that require constant medical treatment.
“They are abandoning us here to die. There is no help; we cannot work because we don’t have papers. They give us nothing—nothing at all… How are we supposed to eat? How are we supposed to pay the rent?” stated Harold A., a 58-year-old Cuban man deported to Mexico who was quoted in the HRW report.
HRW researcher Alcira Silva Hava asserted that “the Trump administration is using Mexico as a dumping ground for deportees it cannot send back to their home countries.” She added that Mexican authorities fail to offer effective mechanisms for these individuals to obtain legal residency—a situation that leaves them vulnerable to criminal networks and exploitation.
The report maintains that the migrants were sent to cities in southern Mexico—such as Tapachula and Villahermosa—where they face high levels of violence, scarce employment opportunities, and limited access to public services. Some interviewees recounted having slept in parks, on the streets, or even outside hospitals.
HRW also accused U.S. authorities of violating due process. According to the organization, none of the interviewees had the opportunity to legally challenge their deportation to Mexico, despite the fact that some previously held lawful permanent residence or refugee status in the United States.
According to an analysis of data from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted by HRW, 26% of the deported Cubans had no criminal record, while only 16% had been convicted of violent or potentially violent crimes.
The organization also alleged abuses within immigration detention centers in the United States, including overcrowding, extreme temperatures, poor nutrition, and physical and verbal violence by guards.
Source: msn
