Trump revokes legal status for thousands of Cuban immigrants

The Trump administration has decided to end a temporary legal status for thousands of Cuban immigrants. This move is creating a difficult situation for Cuban American Republicans who usually support the president. They now have to choose between supporting a decision that is unpopular in their community or disagreeing with Trump. The program allowed over 500,000 immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to stay in the U.S. for up to two years if they had a financial sponsor. Cuban Americans make up the largest group among these migrants. Miami-Dade County, which has a large Cuban American population, has leaned Republican in recent elections. In Florida, Trump won 70% of the vote from Cuban Americans in the last election. Many Cuban American Republicans have been elected to Congress and the state legislature. They now face tough questions following the administration's policy change, which takes effect on April 24. Some Cuban American politicians are trying to navigate the political fallout. U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar blamed President Biden's immigration policies for the situation but also urged Trump not to punish the affected migrants. However, many local Republican representatives did not respond to requests for comments on the issue. Political experts say that Cuban Americans have historically been influential within the Republican Party. They have expected some form of backup support if the parole program ended. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that the program was ending because it did not serve a significant public benefit. The administration’s decision coincides with Marco Rubio serving as the first Cuban American secretary of state. Despite his political background, he has not publicly commented on the policy change. Observers suggest that many Cuban Americans prioritize their Republican identity over specific immigration issues. While the program affects multiple migrant groups, Cuban Americans are seen as the only group with enough political power to push back against the changes. So far, there has been little visible opposition from this community.