A Cuban national, previously convicted of sexually abusing a minor and having served a 12-year prison sentence in the United States, was taken into custody in Orlando, Florida. The arrest was executed during a joint operation by the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Although authorities have not disclosed his name, they have released his photographs. This individual has a criminal background that includes a prior conviction for cocaine trafficking and an outstanding deportation order.
"This sex offender is now off the streets of Orlando," stated Michael W. Banks, the chief of the Border Patrol, on social media platform X, upon announcing the arrest. He detailed that the Cuban man now faces the enforcement of the pending deportation order against him.
Escalating Arrests of Criminal Cubans in Florida
This case is part of a series of recent arrests involving Cubans with severe criminal histories in Florida, which Banks has publicly shared on his social media accounts. In June, immigration officers apprehended a Cuban in Hollywood with convictions for kidnapping, unlawful sexual activity with a minor, grand theft, and multiple arrests for minor offenses. In July, another island immigrant was arrested in Florida after serving 20 years in prison for armed sexual assault and other serious crimes, also having a prior deportation order from 1999.
That same month, in Miami, Banks highlighted another Cuban as a "sexual offender" with an "alarming" record, including convictions for lewd behavior with a minor, prostitution, and theft. Despite having a deportation order since 2012, this individual never left the country.
Deportations Amidst Migrant Tensions
These arrests are part of a federal strategy to crack down on undocumented immigrants with serious convictions, whom authorities describe as the "worst of the worst." According to official figures, over 42,000 Cubans in the U.S. have final deportation orders. However, the Cuban government's refusal to accept those with criminal records or who left before 2017 has complicated the processes. In some instances, Washington has resorted to sending them to third countries, as happened in May with the expedited deportation of two Cubans to South Sudan.
The arrest in Orlando reignites the debate surrounding the plight of thousands of Cubans caught between U.S. justice and the Cuban regime's refusal to readmit them—a migratory limbo that affects both the detainees and their families.
Key Questions on Cuban Deportations
Why are some Cuban nationals facing deportation from the United States?
Cuban nationals with serious criminal convictions are facing deportation as part of a federal strategy to remove undocumented immigrants deemed as high-risk offenders.
What challenges exist in deporting Cuban nationals?
The Cuban government's reluctance to accept deportees with criminal records or those who left before 2017 complicates deportation processes, sometimes leading the U.S. to send them to third countries.
How many Cubans in the U.S. have pending deportation orders?
Over 42,000 Cubans in the United States have final deportation orders, according to official figures.