Florida
Cubans living in South Florida to file lawsuit after finding themselves in a limbo with their immigration status
A federal lawsuit expected to be filed next week in South Florida could reopen a path to U.S. residency for thousands of Cuban immigrants who entered the country legally but now find themselves without immigration status.
The legal action is being prepared against U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and seeks relief for Cuban nationals who arrived in the United States under programs implemented during the Biden administration but whose immigration processes have stalled.
One of the people joining the lawsuit is 22-year-old Ana Gonzalez, a Cuban immigrant who told CBS News Miami she hopes the legal challenge will allow her to continue building a future in the United States.
“I would like to stay here and study,” Gonzalez said. “I cannot continue my studies unless I have my residency.”
Gonzalez said she was studying to become a nurse in Cuba and hopes to finish her education in the United States.
“I would like to contribute to the community,” she said. “I feel like this country is for people who like to work and want to grow.”
Miami immigration attorney Claudia Canizares, who has practiced immigration law in South Florida for more than 15 years, is preparing the lawsuit. She says thousands of Cuban migrants are now stuck in legal limbo.
“There is a need for people right now to get their status adjudicated,” Canizares said. “They’re right now in a limbo.”
As many as 100,000 Cubans could be affected
According to Canizares, as many as 100,000 Cubans could be affected.
The lawsuit focuses on Cubans who entered the United States legally through programs such as the Cuban humanitarian parole program, the CBP One entry process and family reunification initiatives. Under those programs, migrants were allowed to enter the country and later apply for permanent residency through the Cuban Adjustment Act.
However, Canizares says immigration processing stalled after policy changes under the Trump administration. In December, the administration issued a travel ban affecting more than 30 countries, including Cuba. According to the attorney, that action halted many pending immigration cases and led to the suspension of work permits for some migrants.
As a result, many Cubans who entered legally now fear they could be detained or deported.
“Immigration can pick them up, detain them and remove them from the country,” Canizares said.
For Gonzalez, joining the lawsuit represents a chance at stability.
“It’s hope,” she said. “Right now, we don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Participating in the legal action is not free. Migrants must pay thousands of dollars in legal fees to be included in the lawsuit.
Friday, March 13, is the deadline for Cubans who qualify to join the case. According to the attorney, only migrants who entered the United States legally under the designated programs are eligible. Those who entered the country without authorization do not qualify.
If successful, the lawsuit could impact thousands of Cuban migrants across the United States who are waiting for their immigration status to be resolved.
From Boston to now Miami, the Tartan Army has been marching through the streets of South Florida preparing for the Scotland v. Brazil World Cup game at 6 p.m. Known for their crowd-drawing shenanigans, the term “Tartan Army” has been trending on people’s For You Page, but who are they exactly?
The term “Tartan Army” is a nickname for Scotland’s fan base who support the country’s national team. The concept of “Tartan” comes from the iconic fabric design on kilts and is recognized as a symbol of Scottish identity.
The army gained attention for their rowdy team spirit, but also because some bars in Boston ran out of beer as the city hosted Scotland’s first two games. Now they have arrived in Miami and have been making their presence known.
On Monday, around 8,000 army followers marched from a bar called Ball and Chain to the Marlins’ game, making their presence known throughout South Florida.
Then on Tuesday, the Scotland fans invaded Miami Beach as the beer company Miller Lite presented the fans with a tartan beer barge that read “Restock the Scots.”
With the game against Brazil set for later tonight, the Tartan Army will now flood Miami Stadium with beer, bagpipes and kilts.
The number of fatalities because of Brightline train collisions since 2017 unofficially stands at about 214, including 17 in 2026. The company says that is down 30% compared to 2025.
Nearly halfway through 2026, high-speed Brightline trains in Florida have now been involved in over 200 deaths since 2017, even as the company stresses its ongoing safety improvements.
The number of fatalities because of Brightline train collisions since 2017 unofficially stands at about 214, including 17 in 2026 according to media reports, law firms and third-party observers. The company says incidents, which include any contact a train has with another object, have dropped 30% compared with the same time last year.
The company also said it is in the midst of implementing a series of safety improvements using a $45 million federal grant, plus $10 million from Brightline itself. These include fencing, warning and suicide prevention signs and other installations at 327 crossings from Miami to Cocoa.
“These enhancements to the corridor, combined with our education and enforcement efforts, reflect our commitment to continually prioritizing safety and preventing avoidable incidents,” said Brightline Florida CEO Patrick Goddard in a news release.
It’s been well-established that privately owned Brightline, which runs from Miami to Orlando, has the highest death rate per mile traveled of any railroad in the U.S. As of 2025, that figure was 25 deaths per million miles, or about one person every 13 days.
In comparison, that per-mile number is three times higher than Tri-Rail (8.12 deaths per millions miles) and SunRail (8.04) and nearly six times higher than Amtrak (4.20), according to the Florida-based Meldon Law firm.
Where do most Brightline accidents happen in Florida?
In densely populated South Florida, the trains run at speeds of 79 mph or above, with a top speed of about 125 mph in open areas. The vast majority of fatalities occur in the stretch between Miami and West Palm Beach.
Some are suicides. Some are people in vehicles or on bicycles trying to beat the trains or stuck at a crossing. Others are people simply walking on the tracks, apparently unaware a speeding train approaches.
In two recent incidents, a 68-year-old bicyclist was killed May 26 after he was struck by a Brightline train in Stuart. On May 24, two people died when their car was hit by a train in West Palm Beach even though the crossing gate arms were down.
In urban Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties the trains run at grade level, meaning no elevation above the ground. There are also numerous “quiet zones” along the route where the trains do not sound their horns to avoid disturbing residents and businesses.
Where are the least amount of fatal Brightline train accidents in Florida?
The route from Cocoa to Orlando goes through a more rural area, with fewer crossings and 6-foot fencing along the tracks. In 27 months since that section opened, no fatal accidents have been recorded, according to an Orlando Sentinel analysis.
In the long term, Brightline hopes to connect Orlando with the Tampa Bay area. The timing for that proposed extension is uncertain.
What is Brightline’s financial situation?
As deaths continue to mount, so does debt.
The rail line lost more than $233 million in 2025 despite higher revenues than 2024, according to its annual financial statement, prepared by consulting firm Ernst & Young and released April 30.
“Substantial doubt exists about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern,” the firm wrote. Brightline acknowledged it lacks the money to pay off more than $5 billion in debt and interest on schedule.
At the same time, Brightline passengers’ average fares fell during first three months of this year compared to the first quarter of 2025, another company report shows, and its trains carried a quarterly record of more than 900,000 passengers.
Credit-rating agencies have said the company needs either much higher fares or ridership to stay solvent.
The Miami-to-Orlando train company made $214 million in 2025, an increase from about $188 million in 2024, the audit shows.
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Chris Persaud contributed to this report.
Curt Anderson is the Policy and Politics Reporter for The USA TODAY NETWORK-FLORIDA. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY at https://tallahassee.com/newsletters.
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