A Cuban national with a history of violent crime, including convictions for sexual assault with a weapon and escaping custody, has been deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Authorities reported that Rafael Ojeda Acosta, known for offenses such as armed rape, sexual assault, sodomy, robbery, burglary, theft, and escape from custody, was apprehended by ICE agents in New Orleans, Louisiana.
ICE issued a short statement on the social media platform X this past Sunday, although it did not specify the location or timing of Ojeda Acosta's deportation. Given the Cuban government's reluctance to accept back criminals or those who have been abroad since before 2017, it's possible he was sent to a third country instead of Cuba.
Official figures indicate that 42,084 Cubans in the U.S. are under final deportation orders but are on supervised release, as the Cuban regime refuses to take them back. ICE highlighted the danger posed by Ojeda Acosta in their announcement, but withheld further details about his U.S. convictions.
ICE's Ongoing Crackdown on Criminal Immigrants
The arrest is part of a broader national initiative by the Trump administration, aimed at identifying and expelling individuals deemed "the worst of the worst" from U.S. communities. This "zero tolerance" policy particularly targets those with a history of sexual crimes.
Additional Arrests in New Orleans
ICE's New Orleans office also reported the detention of another Cuban national, Jorge Ricardo Cajides Vegas, identified as a convicted child predator. Cajides' criminal background includes charges of child sexual assault and indecency with a minor, as stated in the agency's report. "Criminal illegal aliens who exploit innocent children are not welcome in the United States," warned ICE in their message.
Just a week earlier, another Cuban with an extensive criminal record and a final deportation order was detained by immigration authorities in Hollywood, Florida. This individual's past includes convictions for kidnapping a minor, illegal sexual activity with a minor, grand theft, and various misdemeanors.
Repercussions of the Tough Immigration Policies
The recent wave of arrests involving Cuban immigrants with serious criminal records, particularly for sexual offenses, adds to a string of detentions carried out by ICE and other federal and state agencies. Those detained, many convicted of severe crimes, undergo deportation proceedings to their home countries or third countries if their governments refuse them.
President Donald Trump's stringent immigration strategy aims to apprehend and deport those without legal status or those considered threats to public safety in the United States.
Understanding U.S. Deportation Policies for Cuban Nationals
Why is the Cuban government reluctant to accept deported nationals?
The Cuban government is hesitant to accept nationals with criminal records or those who left the country before 2017, complicating deportation processes.
What is ICE's "zero tolerance" policy?
ICE's "zero tolerance" policy focuses on removing immigrants with serious criminal histories, particularly those involved in sexual crimes, from the U.S.
How does ICE handle deportation if the home country refuses entry?
When a home country refuses to accept deported individuals, ICE may send them to a third country willing to accept them.