The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has reported the apprehension of Eduardo Fundora-Setién, a 59-year-old Cuban national, in New Orleans. Fundora-Setién has a history of domestic violence, including convictions for second and third-degree assault in Louisiana. The arrest took place on August 7, and ICE publicized the event on its official account on X as part of their "Worst of the Worst" campaign, which targets and publicly exposes foreign criminals deemed highly dangerous.
According to ICE’s release, Fundora-Setién is among immigrants in the United States with an irregular status and records of violent crimes, currently facing deportation proceedings. It remains unclear whether he will be deported directly to Cuba or another country, but his case is classified as a high priority for removal from the U.S. ICE emphasized that these operations are integral to their strategy of removing individuals who pose a threat to public safety from the streets.
This incident adds to a series of recent arrests involving Cubans with significant criminal backgrounds. On August 6, ICE apprehended 72-year-old Osvaldo Rabiero Álvarez in Texas, charged with forgery, cocaine and heroin trafficking, theft, and aggravated assault. In Florida, Andrés Guilarte was detained for offenses related to cocaine trafficking and vehicle theft.
In late July, New Orleans saw the capture of 64-year-old Eduardo Luis Machín Pozo, who had drug trafficking and possession convictions in Alabama. Similarly, Lianet Peña Font was arrested in the same city, having served a two-year prison sentence for conspiring to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine.
Authorities have noted that many detainees have final deportation orders or pending immigration processes. Deportations sometimes stall due to the Cuban government's refusal to accept nationals with criminal records, forcing U.S. authorities to send them to third countries. In June, the Supreme Court allowed the resumption of deportations to such countries, even if they aren't migrants’ countries of origin, overturning a ruling that required prior risk assessments of torture or death in those destinations. This decision marked a win for the Trump administration, enhancing ICE’s ability to deport foreign nationals with serious convictions regardless of nationality.
Statistics from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) indicate that over 42,000 Cubans in the U.S. are deemed deportable. Some live under supervised release, while others are held in facilities like the controversial "Alligator Alcatraz," awaiting deportation. The deportation of Cuban nationals with criminal records is part of a broader effort to tighten immigration control, initiated during the Trump administration, aiming to expel foreigners labeled as "the worst of the worst" — including pedophiles, drug traffickers, rapists, gang members, and violent offenders.
Mass arrests of undocumented migrants, conducted by ICE in collaboration with other agencies and federal and state law enforcement, have surpassed 149,000 in the first seven months of the year. Although ICE has stated on X that "the arrests and deportations of criminal illegal immigrants will continue," it did not differentiate between criminals and individuals with irregular status in its message.
Key Questions About ICE Operations and Deportations
What criteria does ICE use to prioritize deportations?
ICE prioritizes deportations based on the threat level individuals pose to public safety, focusing on those with criminal convictions and records of violent crimes.
Why are some deportations sent to third countries?
Deportations are occasionally directed to third countries when the original country refuses to accept their nationals, particularly those with criminal backgrounds.
How has the Supreme Court’s decision affected ICE’s deportation process?
The Supreme Court's ruling has bolstered ICE’s capacity to deport foreigners to third countries by lifting prior restrictions that required assessing risks of torture or death.