Brother of Former Cuban Judge Melody González Arrested by ICE in Florida

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has apprehended Ruber González Pedraza, the brother of former Cuban judge Melody González Pedraza, in Florida. A year ago, Melody sought political asylum in the United States after years of being directly involved with Cuba's oppressive regime. Ruber was detained this week and is currently held at the Krome Detention Center, awaiting deportation.

According to journalist Mario J. Pentón from Martí Noticias, Ruber González entered the United States in 2024 through the humanitarian parole program, the same way his sister did. An immigration judge had previously granted him the option of voluntary departure, but the deportation order remained active, leading to his eventual arrest by authorities.

Pentón reported that Ruber voluntarily accepted deportation, a decision reflected in the immigration court's automated system, suggesting he might be returned to Cuba on one of the scheduled flights this month.

Ruber's Ties to the Cuban Regime

Before emigrating, Ruber González had a history connected to the Cuban regime's propaganda machinery. He graduated in 2011 from the University of Informatics Sciences (UCI), an institution often accused of using students in social media manipulation operations favoring the dictatorship. Neighbors say he later worked in the banking sector.

Simultaneously, he engaged in public activities as a contributor to the official press, writing opinion pieces for outlets like Cubadebate. In one article from September 2010, he defended the five Cuban spies convicted in the United States, supporting their cause and criticizing international media silence on the issue. Under the Facebook alias Azacel, he shared messages aligned with the regime's narrative, though he deleted this digital footprint shortly before moving to the U.S.

The González Family's Legal Struggles

Ruber's arrest adds to the complex situation of his sister, former judge Melody González Pedraza, who remains detained in Louisiana. Her political asylum request was denied in May 2025, and she faces an official deportation order. Melody has sent a letter to U.S. authorities, requesting an expedited return to Cuba following the rejection of her petition.

Melody arrived in the U.S. in May 2024 under humanitarian parole, shortly after sentencing four young people to three and four years in prison in Villa Clara, despite later admitting insufficient evidence. These sentences were criticized by human rights organizations as examples of judicial repression under State Security directives.

Her husband, William Hernández Carrasana, has already been deported and is back in Cuba. With Ruber's arrest, three family members who sought to settle in the U.S. through parole are now facing deportation nearly simultaneously.

Potential Return to Cuba

For Ruber González, the path seems clearer: having accepted deportation, his return to Cuba could be imminent. Pentón noted that a deportation flight to the island is scheduled for the end of this month, though it's not confirmed if Ruber will be on it.

Melody’s situation, however, remains uncertain, pending an appeal decision or enforcement of the deportation order. Her future in Cuba could range from renewed collaboration with the regime to facing legal proceedings, or even enduring social isolation and continuous surveillance, according to specialists consulted by independent media.

The González Pedraza siblings' case continues to attract attention in independent press and among the Cuban exile community, both for their ties to Cuba's repressive system and the irony of seeking a democratic nation's protection after serving a regime that targeted other Cubans.