Amidst the Cuban community in Miami, another family faces turmoil. Randy Mesa Padrón, a 30-year-old from Pinar del Río, entered the United States in 2022 using the I-220A form. On Tuesday, he was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents after attending his second asylum court hearing. "They're taking everyone. I saw many young men being taken away. They don't care about anything," expressed his wife, Roxana Reguero, to CiberCuba on Wednesday.
During Randy Mesa's court appearance, where he was accompanied by his attorney, the judge dismissed his asylum case without hearing any argument. This was the second hearing for Mesa, who works as a barber and is married to his Cuban girlfriend, now residing in the U.S. under the Cuban Adjustment Act. Despite having an ongoing family petition and plans to start his own business in Miami, he was detained at the courthouse by ICE officers.
Roxana Reguero has managed to locate her husband in a detention center in Pompano Beach, Broward County. Within 24 hours under ICE custody, immigration officers attempted to persuade him to self-deport to Cuba, but he refused. Attorney Willy Allen informed CiberCuba that not all hope is lost and that the case can still be fought. Allen pointed out that given Randy's three-year stay in the U.S., he shouldn't have been at risk of detention, as the current focus is on those who have been in the country for less than two years and face expedited deportation once their cases are closed.
Allen emphasized, "Due to his time in the United States, he shouldn't have been detained. Now, he can fight for asylum and residency while detained. He shouldn't give up. He must fight." Randy Mesa arrived in the U.S. in February 2022 and has a pending petition. "He's a barber and hasn't even had a traffic ticket. He's a model citizen for any country, especially this one," said his sister, Dainerys Mesa, who is deeply distressed. According to her, Randy attended his second court hearing with his attorney, and "all asylum cases were massively closed, allowing ICE to detain them outside the court without any delay. Once detained, they were coerced into signing their deportation, with threats of being sent to prisons in other states if they didn't comply," she explained to the platform.
Randy refused to sign, but an officer informed him that he still faced an expedited deportation order, allegedly due to a presidential mandate to close courts en masse and enable ICE's swift deportation processes. This move aims to speed up deportations that have historically been lengthy and challenging, according to Dainerys Mesa.
The couple, Roxana Reguero and Randy Mesa, both from Pinar del Río, had aspirations for the future. Roxana tearfully shared their plans to save every dollar to open a barber shop and buy a house. Now, those dreams are on hold. "They're clipping our wings. Cubans need to unite," she stated, while also criticizing long-time Cuban residents in the U.S. who have forgotten their humble beginnings.
The I-220A form is a parole document issued by U.S. immigration authorities, allowing migrants to be released under supervision after detention. However, it is not considered a legal admission or "parole," creating difficulties for those seeking residency under the Cuban Adjustment Act.
Attorney Willy Allen believes that most I-220A cases will eventually be legalized, but there will be casualties along the way, particularly those who have been in the U.S. for less than two years. Republican Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar has called for time to address the issue and criticized former DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for not resolving the I-220A situation. Now, the pressing question remains: if it was so easy, why hasn't the new Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, taken action?
Key Questions on Randy Mesa's Detention
Why was Randy Mesa detained by ICE?
Randy Mesa was detained by ICE after his second asylum court hearing, where his case was dismissed. Despite being in the U.S. for three years, he was detained due to a focus on expedited deportation for those with pending cases.
What is the I-220A form?
The I-220A is a parole form issued by U.S. immigration authorities, allowing a migrant's release under supervision. It is not considered a legal admission or "parole," complicating the path to obtaining permanent residency.
Can Randy Mesa still fight for asylum and residency?
Yes, attorney Willy Allen asserts that Randy Mesa can still fight for asylum and residency while detained, emphasizing that he should not give up on his case.