An article by the Spanish news agency EFE highlighted recent efforts by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to resume and intensify direct deportation flights of migrants to Venezuela and increase repatriation to Cuba. These repatriations to Cuba resumed this year after being suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Patrick J. Lechleitner, ICE’s acting director, expressed in an interview with the Miami Herald a desire to strengthen these returns, noting that they are in talks with the governments of these countries. He pointed out that ICE operates in a “very dynamic international environment” where the frequency of deportation flights depends on the willingness of foreign governments to take in their citizens, a variable that is outside of ICE’s control.

The text also presents an overview of migration with a focus on Venezuela and Cuba. In May, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) processed more than 44,500 people through appointments at U.S. ports of entry using advanced information sent through the CBP One app. From the introduction of this feature in January 2023 to the end of May, more than 636,600 people have scheduled appointments to attend ports of entry.

The top nationalities processed upon arrival for nomination are Venezuelan and Cuban, followed by Haitian, Mexican, and Honduran. Irregular migrant crossings at the U.S. southern border declined for the third straight month in May, with 117,900 apprehensions, down 9% from April.