Yadira Cantallops, a Cuban national who was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in March in Miramar, Broward County, has been released after being held for one month and 11 days. Reporter Daniel Benítez confirmed that Cantallops, originally from Holguín, has reunited with her family and embraced her young son. She can now pursue her asylum case in the United States.
Following her arrest, Cantallops was transferred by ICE to a detention facility in California. She presented her case before an immigration court, where a judge set her bail at $1,500. Cantallops, along with her husband Ernesto, entered the U.S. in January 2022 via the southern border under the I-220A immigration form. Their son, an American citizen, may positively impact their immigration proceedings.
Benítez also reported on another Cuban woman, Denisa Reyes, who was detained on the same day as Yadira at the ICE center in Miramar. Reyes was granted a $6,000 bond, but her release has yet to be confirmed.
These incidents are part of a series of events in March involving the arrests of Cuban migrants with I-220A documents during their regular check-ins with U.S. immigration authorities. The detentions began on March 13, 2025, affecting young Cuban women in the U.S. despite having the I-220A form, previously considered a supervised release order.
The first reported case was Mailén González, detained during a routine appointment, sparking protests in Miami by activists and the Cuban community demanding her release. The following day, a third Cuban woman with I-220A was also detained, highlighting a troubling pattern of actions by immigration officials in Florida.
Within a week, the number of detained Cuban women with the same document had risen to at least six, causing fear among Cuban immigrants with similar status. A case involved a 33-year-old Cuban mother who was transported from San Antonio, Texas, to a facility in Louisiana, where she reported inadequate conditions and humiliating treatment.
Several detainees shared accounts from ICE facilities, indicating they were not informed of the reasons for their arrests and many had no criminal records. On March 29, one Cuban woman was released following public and media support, marking a small victory, though the fate of other Cuban women with I-220A detained by ICE remains unresolved.
Understanding the I-220A Detentions
What is an I-220A document?
The I-220A form is considered a document for supervised release in immigration processes, allowing individuals to remain under supervision rather than in detention.
Why were Cuban women with I-220A detained?
Despite holding I-220A documents, Cuban women were detained during routine check-ins with ICE, reflecting a concerning enforcement approach by immigration authorities.
How has the community responded to these detentions?
The Cuban community and activists have protested these detentions, demanding the release of those affected and highlighting the injustice of detaining individuals with no criminal records.