On November 6, the United States deported Jorge Luis Vega García, a former lieutenant colonel of the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) in Cuba, known by the nickname "Veguita." This action followed a judicial ruling that mandated his permanent removal from the country.
Vega García's deportation was confirmed by Martí Noticias through discussions with family sources familiar with the case. They reported that Vega García, who was once held in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, is no longer listed in public detention records.
At 55 years old, Vega García entered the United States in January 2024 using the humanitarian parole program at the Tampa International Airport.
His arrival sparked outrage among former political prisoners and Cuban exile activists, who identify him as one of the most feared figures within Cuba's prison system, particularly in the Agüica and Canaleta prisons.
On August 5, 2025, U.S. authorities apprehended Vega García. After weeks of consideration, an immigration judge in Miami ordered his deportation.
U.S. officials acknowledged the allegations of human rights abuses linked to his tenure at the MININT. The decision to deport became final when no appeals were filed with the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA).
ICE released images of Vega García, handcuffed and under federal custody, during his transfer. In a statement, they emphasized that "there is no safe haven in the United States for those attempting to evade their violent pasts" in Cuba.
Martí Noticias and human rights organizations have documented accounts accusing Vega García of orchestrating beatings, extended solitary confinements, medical deprivations, and using common prisoners to harass jailed dissidents.
Cuban-American activist Luis Domínguez, who was involved in the investigation that located the former officer, described the deportation as a "partial victory for the victims."
"Veguita cannot enjoy impunity on free soil as he did in Cuba," Domínguez stated.
This case sets a precedent in U.S. immigration policy concerning former officials of the Cuban communist regime, as Washington reevaluates the backgrounds of humanitarian parole beneficiaries with ties to repressive structures.
Implications of Deportation for Cuban Human Rights Violators
Who is Jorge Luis Vega García?
Jorge Luis Vega García, also known as "Veguita," is a former lieutenant colonel of the Ministry of the Interior in Cuba, recognized for his role in human rights abuses within the Cuban prison system.
Why was Vega García deported from the United States?
Vega García was deported following a judicial decision, due to his involvement in human rights violations during his time with the MININT in Cuba, and after entering the U.S. under the humanitarian parole program.
What impact does this deportation have on U.S. immigration policy?
The deportation establishes a precedent in U.S. policy towards former Cuban regime officials, signaling a stricter review of humanitarian parole recipients with ties to oppressive regimes.