A new Miami Herald poll shows that a majority of Cubans and Cuban Americans in South Florida disapprove of the Trump administration's push to deport undocumented Cuban nationals without criminal records.
The poll, released Thursday, found that 68 percent of Cubans strongly or somewhat disapprove of the administration's deportation efforts, compared to 28 percent who strongly or somewhat approve. An overwhelming majority—81 percent—said the Trump administration should allow Cubans to immigrate to the U.S. legally.
The survey was conducted among 800 randomly selected Cubans and Cuban Americans living in South Florida, from the Florida Keys to Palm Beach County. Roughly three-quarters of respondents were born on the island, while the others were U.S.-born. The survey was conducted by Bendixen & Amandi International and The Tarrance Group from April 6 to April 10, with a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive critics have argued that the Trump administration's hardline approach to Cuban immigration ignores the island's deepening humanitarian crisis. Democratic lawmakers and immigrant rights advocates have called for expanded legal pathways, citing the collapse of Cuba's electrical grid last month that left nearly 11 million people without power.
Senator Robert Menendez and other progressive Democrats have called the deportation policy cruel, noting that Cubans fleeing the island face economic collapse and food scarcity. Immigration advocates have argued that revoking protected status for Cubans already in the U.S. punishes people who fled political repression.
Progressive organizations have also pointed to the broader humanitarian implications, noting that Cuba's economic and energy crisis—exacerbated by the U.S. oil embargo announced in January—has created conditions that force people to flee. The 81% support for legal immigration pathways reflects, they argue, a recognition that many Cubans are seeking safety rather than economic opportunity.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative supporters of the administration's Cuba policy argue that enforcing immigration laws applies equally to all nationalities. They note that the Trump administration has been clear that anyone in the U.S. without legal status—regardless of country of origin—should be subject to deportation.
House Republican leaders have defended the administration's decision to redesignate Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, arguing that the island's government supports rogue actors in the region. They point to the administration's position that economic pressure is necessary to push political reform.
Conservative commentators have also argued that supporting legal immigration pathways doesn't mean opposing enforcement. Many on the right support a merit-based system that allows Cubans to immigrate legally while still enforcing borders. The 28% approval in the poll shows significant support for the deportation stance among some Cuban American voters.
What the Numbers Show
The poll numbers reveal a complex political landscape. 68% disapprove of deporting undocumented Cubans without criminal records, while 28% approve. 81% support allowing legal immigration pathways. 76% say the administration should resume processing benefits for Cuban nationals already living in the U.S.
The survey comes amid significant policy actions: the State Department paused immigration visa processing from Cuba in January. The administration revoked protected status that shielded Cubans from deportation. An analysis by the Cato Institute found nearly one million applications from Cuban migrants affected by a federal benefits freeze, including about 36,000 applicants seeking naturalization.
Miami-Dade County is home to the largest concentration of Cubans outside the island, according to Florida International University. The poll's margin of error is 3.5 percentage points.
The Bottom Line
The Miami Herald poll reveals deep divisions within South Florida's Cuban American community over the Trump administration's immigration policies. While a majority oppose deportation of undocumented Cubans without criminal records, there's also substantial support for legal immigration pathways—a nuanced position that doesn't fit neatly into traditional political categories.
The poll also shows 76% want the administration to resume processing benefits for Cuban nationals already in the U.S., suggesting widespread concern about the humanitarian situation on the island. As Cuba continues to face economic collapse and infrastructure failures, immigration policy remains a central issue for this key voting bloc in Florida.