A Cuban woman took to TikTok to express her distress over the detention of her uncle by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in a California supermarket, despite his having approved residency in the United States.
The video, uploaded on the account @mamiypapi2023, captures the young woman's evident concern as she recounts how her relative was approached by ICE officials right after completing his shopping. "My uncle was shopping in California, and as soon as he finished paying, ICE detained him on the spot and told him he had to come with them," she explains.
According to the woman, her uncle showed the agents an application indicating that his green card had been approved and was in the process of being produced. Nonetheless, this did not prevent him from being taken into custody by the authorities.
"We are waiting for the lawyer to update us. So far, we have no communication with him, we don't know anything, and we're trying to see what happens," she added, visibly shaken.
The Cuban woman used this incident to criticize supporters of former President Donald Trump. "We owe a lot to the Trump supporters who voted for Trump, and since none of your family members have experienced this, you continue to support him," she remarked.
"Not having papers here is no longer safe, but now having them isn't either. What's happening? What is this?" she questioned in the video, which has sparked numerous reactions from users concerned about the tightening of immigration policies in the United States.
Currently, the man’s family has not been able to reach him or determine his exact location. The young woman concluded the video with the hope that her uncle will soon emerge from this ordeal: "I hope my uncle gets through all this and it’s just a bad experience."
This incident arises amid warnings from immigrant rights organizations about an increase in ICE actions, especially in areas with a significant presence of migrant communities.
Concerns Over ICE Actions and Immigration Policies
Why was the Cuban man's residency status not enough to prevent his detention?
Despite having his residency approved, the man was detained because his green card was still in production, highlighting potential gaps or misunderstandings in communication with ICE.
What has been the public reaction to the video posted on TikTok?
The video has elicited multiple reactions from users who are increasingly worried about the stricter immigration policies in the United States.
What do immigrant rights organizations say about recent ICE actions?
Organizations defending immigrant rights have warned about a rise in ICE operations, particularly in regions with large migrant populations, which is causing increased anxiety among these communities.