More than 35,000 Cubans living in the United States with deportation orders could be actually deported to Cuba with the relations between Cuba and the United States warming up. According to the U.S. government, deportation orders have been issued to over 35,000 Cubans, almost all on orders of supervision and not in custody. Currently, Cuba policy is accept only a limited number of repatriations and usually only for those Cubans with criminal records. There is a list of Cubans that Cuba and the United States agreed upon in 1984 which includes the names of 2,746 Cubans to be repatriated. If any of these Cubans come into custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, they will be deported to Cuba.

Now, with the renewed relations with Cuba, that list could grow to include all the Cubans in the United States who have deportation orders but were previously not accepted by Cuba for repatriation. The American Embassy has reopened in Havana and Secretary Kerry will visit the embassy soon.

Cubans with deportation orders should seek the advice of a competent immigration attorney to explore their options. Depending on each individual situation, options may exist to avoid being physically deported to Cuba.