"Caught After Court: The Harrowing Experience of Cubans with I-220A in the U.S."

The number of Cubans with I-220A immigration status being detained in the United States is on the rise, largely due to immigration policies set in motion by former President Donald Trump. The latest incident involves Rogelio Lázaro González Moya, who was apprehended in Miami after attending a court hearing on September 12. Journalist Javier Díaz reported that González Moya was taken into custody immediately after the judge dismissed his case, and he is now held by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). González Moya has until October 15 to appeal the decision, failing which he will receive a deportation order and be forced to leave the country.

This is not an isolated case. Over recent months, there has been a surge in the arrests of Cubans with I-220A status, many of whom are hardworking individuals with no criminal records and ongoing legal proceedings. The growing pattern of detentions is raising alarm within the immigrant community.

Routine ICE Check Leads to Arrest

Another recent case involves Pastor Michel Roque Armas from Pinar del Río, who was detained three months ago in San Antonio, Texas, after a routine appointment with ICE. The incident was kept quiet by his family until last Friday when a judge issued a deportation order. His wife, Rosmery, expressed her distress, facing the prospect of being left alone with their five-year-old daughter. "He is a good man, with no criminal background," she emphasized, condemning the process as unjust.

Targeting Workers and Families

The case of Yasmani Guía Pablo, a Lyft driver in Georgetown, Texas, has also sparked outrage. He was arrested while on the job, accused of driving under the influence—a claim his wife, a U.S. citizen, vehemently denied, labeling the incident as racially motivated. Yasmani, a Christian musician, also holds an I-220A and is now facing deportation proceedings.

In Phoenix, Arizona, a Cuban woman was detained after leaving her workplace, despite having a valid work permit. She was held for a month before being released with an electronic ankle monitor. These cases highlight how recent ICE actions are impacting even those adhering to their legal obligations, often resulting in detentions without clear justification, exacerbating the sense of legal uncertainty among immigrants.

Courtroom Raids and Swift Deportations

Journalists in Miami have documented raids at immigration courts where Cubans with I-220A have been arrested upon exiting their hearings. The unexpected detentions have created a widespread climate of fear among those engaged in immigration procedures. This situation has drawn criticism from within the Cuban community in the U.S., particularly towards those who, despite being immigrants or Cubans themselves, support or justify these detentions.

The I-220A document has been used by thousands of Cubans who arrived in the U.S. without a defined legal status. While it does not guarantee residency, it has allowed them to remain in the country while seeking options like the Cuban Adjustment Act. However, shifts in the current administration's immigration policies have turned this temporary safeguard into a legal trap for many who have committed no crimes or violated immigration laws.