In Miami, U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents have apprehended a Cuban national with a criminal record for sexual offenses and a deportation order dating back to 2012. Michael W. Banks, the Border Patrol Chief, stated on the social media platform X that the individual is a "sexual offender" with a "disturbing history," who was ordered to leave the country in 2012 but failed to comply.
Although Banks shared a photograph of the detained individual, he withheld the name. In his statement, he highlighted the Cuban's convictions, which include indecent conduct with a minor, resulting in a five-year prison sentence, along with charges of prostitution and theft. The Cuban, who was taken into custody on July 16, remains under detention and is soon to be deported from the United States, according to the officer.
Another Cuban Arrested in Broward for Sexual Offenses
Earlier this month, another Cuban citizen with a criminal history involving sexual offenses against a minor was apprehended by Border Patrol agents from the Dania Beach Station in Broward County. Jeffrey Dinise, chief of the USBP's Miami Sector, shared on X that on July 9, a Cuban man previously convicted of lewd acts with a minor under 16 was arrested. Although a photo was shared, the detainee's identity was not disclosed.
"This underscores the importance of border security," Dinise remarked, expressing relief at "keeping another child predator off the streets" of the country. The detainee now faces imminent deportation from the U.S.
Wave of Cuban Immigrant Arrests and Deportations
Recent weeks have seen a series of arrests and deportations of Cuban immigrants in the U.S. with criminal convictions or pending serious charges. Last week, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained Juan Félix Yanes Montano, 56, who has a criminal record for theft, armed burglary, and kidnapping with a deadly weapon in Miami-Dade, Florida.
A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) statement classified him among a group of undocumented immigrants with violent offenses who "pose the greatest threat to American community safety." Yanes remains in ICE custody, awaiting deportation.
In a separate incident, Geraldo Lunas Campos, 55, a convicted felon in the U.S., was arrested in Buffalo, New York. Authorities report his criminal history dates back to 1997, including first-degree sexual abuse of a child under 11, aggravated assault with a weapon, unlawful possession of a loaded firearm, and controlled substance distribution. He too faces deportation.
As of December 2024, there were 42,084 Cuban immigrants in the U.S. with deportation orders. However, the Cuban government has resisted taking them back. These deportable Cubans may be sent to third countries due to the island's regime's reluctance to accept returnees with criminal records or those who left before 2017.
According to former President Donald Trump's administration, this refusal has led to at least three Cuban criminals being deported to third countries, specifically in Africa. In May, Enrique Arias Hierro and José Manuel Rodríguez Quiñones were sent to South Sudan, part of a group of eight immigrants convicted of severe crimes in the U.S. with final expulsion orders from ICE.
More recently, on July 15, the U.S. government transported Roberto Mosquera Del Peral to Eswatini in southern Africa during a forced deportation operation that included four other immigrants from various nationalities with criminal backgrounds. These ICE deportation flights are part of the White House's strategy to expel convicted foreign criminals to third countries when their home nations refuse to accept them. This measure has been supported by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Questions on Cuban Deportations and Border Security
What led to the arrest of the Cuban national in Miami?
The Cuban national was arrested due to a criminal record for sexual offenses and a long-standing deportation order from 2012 that had not been fulfilled.
Why is the deportation of Cuban immigrants occurring in third countries?
Deportations to third countries are taking place because the Cuban government is unwilling to accept returnees with criminal records or those who left the island before 2017.
How does the U.S. government handle undocumented immigrants with violent offenses?
The U.S. government, through ICE, identifies undocumented immigrants with violent offenses as a significant threat and prioritizes their detention and deportation.