The U.S. government's decision to deny asylum and order the deportation of former Cuban judge Melody González Pedraza has sparked a wave of reactions among Cuban American politicians. They hailed the move as a triumph for justice and a decisive step against the impunity of Cuban regime enforcers.
Republican Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar voiced her strong support for the immigration decision. “No refuge in the United States for Castro regime henchmen! We will not allow collaborators of the Cuban dictatorship to hide among those who truly fled its repression. This is just the beginning. Today, those oppressed by this accomplice of Castroism receive a measure of justice. Zero refuge for regime executioners,” she declared on her official account on X.
Additionally, Florida Congressman Carlos A. Giménez commented that it was good news. “#SOSCuba Good news! Repressive judge Melody González, who sentenced dissidents and human rights activists in #Cuba, will be returned to the island as the henchwoman she always was. These scoundrels have no place in the USA!” he emphasized.
The decision was confirmed by the automated system of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). An immigration judge in Pompano Beach, Florida, ruled on May 21 that Melody González Pedraza must leave the country following a long and contentious process regarding her immigration status.
The former judge arrived in the U.S. with humanitarian parole in June of last year but was detained upon arrival at Tampa airport. Since then, she has been involved in a process where she sought asylum, claiming fear of persecution if she returned to Cuba. However, her history as an official in the Cuban judicial system, where she allegedly sentenced several dissidents without due process, was pivotal in the judge’s decision to deny her request.
González has until June 20 to appeal the order to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). The news was met with relief by exiles and victims of Cuban repression. Samuel Rodríguez, an activist residing in the U.S. and one of those who claims to have been directly victimized by González, stated on social media that “asylum is deserved by the oppressed, not the oppressors. Justice was served today in this great country.”
In a live broadcast, Rodríguez expressed that the former judge has slim chances of overturning the decision in the appeal process. Melody González served as a criminal judge in Cuba and has been accused of participating in political trials where, according to human rights organizations, she handed down sentences under the pressure of the Communist Party and State Security.
Testimonies and reports link her to the conviction of four young individuals for an attack, without conclusive evidence, who remain imprisoned. While the former judge may have admitted to acting under political pressure, she has shown no public signs of remorse.
The case of González Pedraza is part of a series of similar situations where former Cuban regime officials attempt to settle in the U.S., concealing their background as collaborators of the repressive apparatus. Pressure on immigration authorities has increased, demanding stricter controls and background checks.
Attorney Wilfredo Allen, quoted by Martí Noticias, warned that if the appeal is denied or not submitted, the former judge will be forcibly deported and left with no legal recourse to remain in the country.
Key Questions on Judge Melody González's Deportation
What led to the deportation order against Melody González?
The deportation order was due to her alleged role in sentencing Cuban dissidents without due process and her history as an official within the Cuban judicial system, which influenced the judge's decision to deny her asylum.
What are Melody González's chances of winning an appeal?
According to activist Samuel Rodríguez, her chances of overturning the decision in the appeal process are slim, given her controversial past and the evidence against her.
How have Cuban American politicians reacted to the deportation order?
Cuban American politicians, such as María Elvira Salazar and Carlos A. Giménez, have applauded the decision, seeing it as a victory for justice and a step against the impunity of Cuban regime collaborators.