Cubans held in the largest detention center operated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) claim they have been subjected to beatings, shackling, and coercion to force them into accepting deportation to Mexico, a nation where they lack citizenship and basic protection assurances.
The accusations, documented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and forwarded to ICE, paint a grim picture of violence, coercion, and due process violations at the Fort Bliss facility in Texas.
As reported by The Washington Post, the accounts of four Cubans, disclosed under anonymity due to fear of reprisals, detail instances of brutality starting within the facility itself, including heads smashed against walls, ankles twisted, testicles crushed, and threats of prolonged detention.
According to these individuals, the aggression escalated when they expressed fear of being sent to Mexico, a country where they had no legal ties or protection.
One detainee recounted that after refusing to sign a document agreeing to deportation, he was thrown to the ground, handcuffed, and forced onto a bus headed for the border. Another stated he lost consciousness following a beating while requesting access to his medications.
Upon arrival at the border, masked men reportedly pressured them to cross into Mexico, threatening incarceration in El Salvador or deportation “to Africa” if they resisted.
The Trump administration has endorsed these deportations to "third countries," despite prior exceptions for Cuban nationals due to Cuba’s historical refusal to accept mass repatriation flights. Yet, this practice has accelerated following a provisional Supreme Court ruling allowing expulsions with just six hours' notice, bypassing hearings and the opportunity for detainees to present torture fears, as mandated by the Convention Against Torture, ratified by the United States.
As these allegations emerge, recent reports have documented the fate of many Cubans expelled to Mexico. Instead of receiving protection, they find themselves abandoned in Villahermosa, Tabasco, without legal status or formal employment opportunities.
Many survive by hauling water or working in markets, some fall ill without access to medicine, and elderly deportees, sent back after decades in the U.S. with conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or vision loss, face a new life without family, resources, or rights.
While Mexico accepts these deportees, it does not provide them with documents to work or reside legally, leaving them in a migratory limbo—too vulnerable to settle and without a realistic chance of returning to the U.S., where many have left behind children, partners, and debts.
The cases at Fort Bliss highlight that before reaching this limbo, some Cuban migrants endure the ordeal of pressure and brute force, coerced into accepting a fate they did not choose.
Understanding the Impact of ICE Deportations on Cuban Detainees
What are the allegations against ICE regarding Cuban detainees?
Cuban detainees have accused ICE of using violence, such as beatings and shackling, to coerce them into accepting deportation to Mexico, despite lacking citizenship or protection there.
How has the Trump administration defended these deportations?
The Trump administration has defended deportations to third countries as a policy shift, despite Cuba's historical resistance to mass repatriations, and has proceeded under a Supreme Court ruling allowing expedited expulsions.
What challenges do deported Cubans face in Mexico?
Deported Cubans in Mexico face challenges such as lack of legal status, inability to work formally, health issues without access to medical care, and a precarious existence without family support or rights.