In recent days, numerous Cubans applying for residency have been receiving letters from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) summoning them for fingerprint appointments. On his weekly show on CiberCuba, immigration law expert Willy Allen addressed the most common question he received: "Is this normal?" Allen acknowledged the widespread concern, stating, "This month's new panic is about fingerprints," as Cuban applicants, regardless of whether they applied a year ago or just last month, are puzzled by the sudden call for biometric tests. Naturally, they fear the worst—being detained and deported.
Allen clarified multiple times on the platform that it is unusual for such a large number of people to be called for fingerprinting simultaneously. This situation is reminiscent of the recent months when it became atypical for individuals to be detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents upon exiting the court after their cases were dismissed by a judge.
Furthermore, Allen consulted with a group of attorneys regarding the fingerprint appointments, and all confirmed that none of their clients have ever been detained while attending biometric tests. The current anxiety over fingerprinting adds to the collective fear of ICE arrests occurring on streets, highways, in court, and during appointments in Miramar.
Following this, there was the distressing saga of the detentions of I-220A Cuban women; then came the intense fear regarding the enforcement of deportation orders for I-220B, which has resulted in dozens being sent back to Havana, including a mother of a breastfeeding infant with an I-130 in process.
The list of fears is extensive: the dread of deportation to an African country, confinement in the Cayman Alcatraz, the terror of being detained without bail under the Matter of Q. Li doctrine, and later, Yahure Hurtado. There's also the collective fear of being transferred to a distant immigrant detention center in another state, complicating communication with legal defense teams. There's no respite.
Common Concerns About Immigration Processes for Cubans
Why are Cubans receiving fingerprint appointments from USCIS?
Many Cubans applying for residency have recently been called for biometric appointments by USCIS, causing widespread concern among applicants due to its unusual nature.
Is it common for ICE to detain individuals at court exits?
Recently, it has become less common for ICE to detain individuals at court exits, although this was a concern in the past few months when cases were dismissed by judges.
What other fears do Cuban immigrants face?
Cuban immigrants fear deportation to remote locations, detentions without the possibility of bail, and being sent to distant detention centers, complicating legal defense efforts.