Beatriz Monteagudo, a 25-year-old Cuban with an I-220A form, is now back at her Miami home after spending nearly two months in detention at a San Diego, California facility. Her ordeal began following a routine appointment with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Miramar, Broward, on March 10. During an interview with CiberCuba, Monteagudo shared her harrowing experience, expressing, "Even doing everything right isn't enough," after being detained and imprisoned without any criminal charges.
Faced with the option to self-deport to Cuba or fight her case, Monteagudo was left with no real choice but to pursue asylum in the United States. She was part of a group of 18 women with I-220A forms who were unexpectedly detained in March during ICE appointments, shocking the Cuban community in Florida. Since 2021, an estimated 400,000 Cubans have entered the U.S. under this immigration category, which does not allow them to benefit from the Cuban Adjustment Act after a year and a day.
After enduring two months in a facility for common prisoners, Monteagudo was released on a $4,100 bond, facilitated pro bono by the Law Office of Liudmila A. Marcelo PA. She recalls the prison experience with dread, particularly the unsettling sound of keys and chains carried by officers as they patrolled the corridors. Now free on bond and under supervision, Monteagudo acknowledges that as long as she holds an I-220A, she will never truly feel at ease. Nonetheless, she remains composed, priding herself on her resilience and mental health as she navigates the future. Currently, she is focused on securing her work permit and preparing to contest her asylum case in court.
In her conversation with CiberCuba, Monteagudo expressed gratitude towards her friend Johan, who secured her legal representation and brought attention to her case in the media, as well as everyone who contributed financially to her bail. Like many Cuban migrants in the U.S., Monteagudo now waits to see if the "stroke of the pen" requested by Representative María Elvira Salazar from former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas under the Biden Administration will be embraced by current DHS Secretary Kristi Noem from the Trump Administration. This action could potentially establish a 'parole in place' allowing Cubans with I-220A to qualify for the Cuban Adjustment Act after residing in the U.S. for a year and a day.
Attorney Willy Allen has advocated on CiberCuba programs for such an administrative decision, arguing that Cubans with I-220A have been inspected, interviewed, and admitted at the border, meeting the necessary criteria for the Cuban Adjustment Act. He believes this hinges on political will. For now, those with I-220A status face no immediate danger, and a recent Immigration Appeals Board ruling provides lawyers with a new tool to fight for legal status on behalf of Cubans holding I-220A forms.
Understanding I-220A and Its Implications for Cuban Migrants
What is an I-220A form?
The I-220A form is a document issued to certain Cuban migrants, indicating their entry into the United States under a specific immigration category that doesn't allow them to automatically qualify for the Cuban Adjustment Act.
Why was Beatriz Monteagudo detained by ICE?
Beatriz Monteagudo was detained by ICE during a routine appointment despite having committed no crime, likely due to her I-220A status, which has affected many Cuban migrants in similar situations.
What are the prospects for Cubans with I-220A to adjust their status?
Currently, there is hope that an administrative decision could allow Cubans with I-220A to be considered for the Cuban Adjustment Act, depending on political decisions and recent legal rulings.