ICE Detains Three Cuban Nationals with Serious Criminal Records Facing Expulsion from the U.S.

Three Cuban nationals residing illegally in the United States, all with serious criminal backgrounds, have been apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and are facing imminent deportation.

This weekend, immigration authorities announced the arrests of Alexander Herrera Acosta, Joaquín Viamonte Salas, and Erisbel Artiles during separate ICE operations. Both Viamonte Salas and Artiles currently have active final deportation orders.

Herrera Acosta was taken into custody at his residence in Cape Coral, Florida. His criminal record is extensive, with his most severe conviction being for sexual abuse of a minor. ICE has labeled him as part of "The Worst of the Worst," a designation for individuals they classify as "violent foreign offenders."

Viamonte Salas, aged 34, has previous convictions for sexual assault, battery, and theft, in addition to a final removal order dated 2024. Although ICE did not specify where he was arrested, they stated unequivocally that they intended to "arrest him one way or another, and his mother was aware of it." The agency shared a photo on social media platform X, showing Viamonte in handcuffs with his mother handing a mobile phone to one of the officers. "When the community cooperates with us, everyone is safer," ICE emphasized.

Arrest Operations in Florida

The arrest of Artiles took place in Tallahassee, Florida. He is 47 years old and has an active deportation order alongside a lengthy criminal history, including theft, kidnapping (taking a person hostage to escape), vehicle theft, unlawful restraint, and drug-related offenses.

Artiles' latest arrest was executed in collaboration with the Collier County Sheriff's Office as part of the 287(g) program, which empowers local and state law enforcement to enforce immigration laws under ICE supervision. In 2010, Artiles was sentenced to over 10 years in prison (121 months) for a hostage-taking incident in a human trafficking case involving the illegal transport of an undocumented Guatemalan immigrant from his home country to Florida. His mother was also prosecuted for her role in the smuggling operation.

Challenges in Cuban Deportations

Since January, an unspecified number of Cuban immigrants with criminal backgrounds have been detained by ICE across several states. These individuals have been either placed in detention centers awaiting deportation or have already been deported, in line with strict immigration control policies implemented during the Trump administration.

The U.S. government has deported immigrants with serious offenses to third countries when their home countries refuse to accept them. In the case of Cuban nationals, deportation to a country other than Cuba may occur if the Havana regime refuses their return. Cuban authorities often reject individuals with criminal records in the U.S. or those who emigrated before January 2017.

In June, the Supreme Court granted the White House the authority to deport certain immigrants to countries other than their origin, even if they face potential torture or death. Prior to this ruling, two Cuban nationals with extensive criminal records were sent to South Sudan, while another was deported to the Kingdom of Eswatini in July. Some Cuban nationals have been relocated to Mexico, though the exact number has not been disclosed.

Between January and September of this year, 999 individuals have been deported to Cuba from the U.S. via air, in compliance with existing bilateral migration agreements.

According to official data from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), over 42,000 Cubans have final deportation orders. However, the island's regime's reluctance to accept their return has complicated removal processes.