A Cuban mother has raised her voice demanding the release of her 19-year-old son, who remains in custody under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Tacoma, Washington. This is despite him passing his credible fear interview and his family having already paid the bail set by immigration authorities. San Karel Sánchez Blanco crossed the border from Mexico in January 2025, after enduring a month-long kidnapping in Zacatecas, Mexico, where his mother paid a $5,000 ransom to save his life.
Instead of finding safety in the United States, the young man is currently detained in an immigration center and faces the threat of deportation, possibly to a country other than Cuba. "My son is desperate because he was held captive for a whole month in Mexico. He entered at 18 and turned 19 while imprisoned; he's emaciated, even lost his glasses," explained Glisett Blanco Pérez, the young man's mother, to Univision’s Noticias 23.
"They told me they would release him, charged me a thousand dollars, and to this day, they haven't let him go," she lamented. Univision 23 journalist Javier Díaz reported via Instagram that the young man has been detained for nearly 70 days and has started a hunger strike.
His mother, who resides in the United States, insists that her son is not only a victim of what she calls an unfair immigration process but also of political persecution in Cuba, where the family claims to have received police threats due to their opposition to the regime. "I ask everyone who sees this video to have a little heart and help get my son released. I only ask for his freedom because we're in a free country and yet he hasn't been released," she pleaded.
ICE's Crackdown on Cuban Migrants
San Karel's situation is part of the increasingly tough landscape for Cuban migrants in the U.S. ICE has ramped up its oversight and detention of Cubans with documents like the I-220A, even during routine immigration appointments, causing alarm within the community.
In the first seven months of 2025, immigration authorities have made over 149,000 arrests, indicating a hardening of immigration policies. Among those detained are Cuban women released after weeks of unexplained detention, young people caught in endless legal processes, and families torn apart by uncertainty.
Simultaneously, operations like "The Worst of the Worst" target migrants with serious criminal records, yet there are rising reports of non-criminal Cubans remaining behind bars despite having their paperwork in order.
In San Karel's case, his mother emphasizes that she is not asking for special treatment but rather justice for her son, who at just 19 years old has gone from being kidnapped in Mexico to being locked up in a U.S. immigration facility.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuban Migrants and ICE
Why is ICE detaining Cuban migrants with I-220A documents?
ICE has increased scrutiny and detentions of Cuban migrants, even those with I-220A documents, during routine appointments as part of a broader crackdown on immigration policies.
What challenges do Cuban migrants face in the United States?
Cuban migrants face heightened enforcement measures, extended detentions without clear reasons, and the risk of deportation, often without regard to their completed legal processes.
How has the political climate in Cuba affected Cuban migrants in the U.S.?
Political persecution in Cuba, including police threats against opposition families, has contributed to the migration of individuals seeking asylum in the U.S., where they encounter complex legal challenges.