The implementation of humanitarian parole for Cuban migrants has drastically slowed, with only 10 Cubans receiving travel permits in December 2024—none of whom were able to reach the United States that month. This marks a sharp decline in the program’s effectiveness, as no Cubans have been able to travel under the parole since October 2024.
Data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reveals that, although over 531,690 individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela have been approved for entry in recent months, the number of Cuban beneficiaries remains strikingly low. By the end of December 2024, only 110,970 Cubans had been authorized to travel under the humanitarian parole program.
The Joe Biden administration created the program as part of a broader strategy to regulate the migration flow from these countries. However, several challenges have hindered its success, including logistical obstacles and the lack of available commercial flights, which have delayed the travel of many approved migrants. As a result, many Cuban migrants remain stranded, unable to take advantage of the legal travel opportunity provided by the program.
