Cuban with I-220A in Custody Never Met His Newborn

The plight of Cuban immigrants facing ongoing immigration processes in the United States is becoming increasingly dire. A recent example is the case of Harold Luis Navarro, a Cuban migrant with an I-220A status, who was apprehended in Arizona after finishing his workday installing solar panels and heading home. Despite having no criminal record and a valid work permit extending to 2029, Navarro, originally from Camagüey, lost his final asylum hearing on August 29 while in detention, as reported by his wife. He now faces a deportation order and remains in custody at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Florence, Arizona.

Navarro's arrest has had severe personal and familial repercussions: his wife gave birth while he was already behind bars, and he has yet to meet his newborn child. Immigration authorities have not approved a visit, compounding the family's anguish. Javier Díaz, a journalist from Univisión 23, who has been closely following these cases, shared Navarro's story on Facebook, urging the public to empathize with these families and highlighting that most migrants are not criminals. Making these stories public is a way to support them.

Rising Concerns Over Treatment of Cubans with I-220A

Harold Navarro's story is not an isolated incident. In recent months, at least three other Cubans with I-220A have been detained by ICE across various states, causing fear and confusion within the immigrant community. For instance, Yasmani Guía Pablo, a Lyft driver in Texas, was arrested in Williamson County after an officer accused him of driving under the influence, despite the lack of breathalyzer or lab test evidence. His wife claims it was an arbitrary arrest, asserting that he does not drink and is devoted to his church.

Another troubling case involves Michel Roque Armas, a pastor from Pinar del Río, who was detained during a routine ICE appointment in San Antonio, Texas, even though he had a scheduled hearing for 2027. A judge later issued a deportation order. More recently, in Miami, Rubén del Valle was taken into custody inside a courthouse in September, right after a judge dismissed his immigration case. He now awaits an appeal opportunity until October 15; otherwise, he faces deportation.

Legal Uncertainty and Fear Among Cuban Immigrants

These incidents underscore the sense that Cubans with I-220A status—a document that allows them to remain free while their immigration cases progress—are facing a progressively unpredictable and arbitrary situation. It's estimated that over 380,000 Cubans hold this status in the U.S., and according to activists and attorneys, the lack of transparency in processes, coupled with sudden detentions and deportation orders, has fostered a climate of legal insecurity that harshly affects families who have started to build new lives.

As Harold remains detained, his wife takes care of their newborn on her own, hoping that ICE will eventually allow a meeting between father and child. However, the uncertainty looms over the family and thousands of other Cubans who fear they might find themselves in a similar predicament at any moment.