A Cuban national with a criminal history involving sexual offenses against minors was detained on Tuesday in Miami by officers from the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This arrest aligns with former President Donald Trump's stringent immigration policies. The individual in question, Ariochy Morán, aged 52, is an undocumented Cuban immigrant previously convicted of attempting lewd acts with a child under the age of 12.
Federal authorities confirmed via their official account @EROMiami that Morán has a final deportation order and will remain in ICE custody pending his removal from the United States. The agency announced on social media platform X, "Today ERO and HSI Miami arrested Ariochy Morán, an illegal alien with a criminal record. Morán was convicted of attempted lewd assault against a child under 12. He has a final removal order and remains in ICE custody."
The arrest took place just one day after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the resumption of deportations to third-party countries, even if the migrants are not originally from those nations, bypassing thorough assessments of the risk of torture or death. This policy, championed by Trump, had previously been halted by a judicial order.
In a 6-3 decision, the conservative majority of the Supreme Court overruled the decision of Federal Judge Brian Murphy, who had previously blocked these deportations on the grounds that they might violate basic human rights. Migrants from several countries, including Cuba, Mexico, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and South Sudan, many without criminal records, are affected by this policy.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) hailed the ruling as a victory for "the safety of the American people" and indicated that the measure could be implemented immediately, without prior notice or minimum legal defense guarantees. In her dissenting opinion, liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor accused the government of acting "without legal constraints" and the Supreme Court of "rewarding illegality," warning that thousands of migrants could be sent to "remote places where they face violence" without due process.
This decision strengthens Trump's agenda for mass deportations, which includes reactivating agreements with countries like Panama and Costa Rica to house migrants when other nations refuse to accept them. At least two Cubans have already been sent to South Sudan under these circumstances. Morán's case, despite its serious criminal nature, highlights the immediate impact of this policy, which could also affect Cuban migrants without criminal backgrounds if they are subject to deportation orders under the new executive directives, human rights analysts caution.
Human rights organizations and immigration attorneys warn that the lack of support networks in third-party countries, coupled with the absence of individual risk assessments, poses a severe threat to the safety and well-being of thousands of people expelled from U.S. soil. It remains uncertain whether Morán will be sent to Cuba, as the island has previously refused to accept its citizens in similar cases.
Impact of Deportation Policies on Cuban Nationals
What charges has Ariochy Morán faced?
Ariochy Morán has been convicted of attempting lewd acts with a child under the age of 12.
How has the Supreme Court's decision affected deportation policies?
The Supreme Court's decision has enabled the resumption of deportations to third-party countries, even without thorough risk assessments for the migrants involved.
What concerns have been raised by human rights organizations?
Human rights groups are concerned about the lack of support networks and individual risk evaluations for deported individuals, which could jeopardize their safety.