A Cuban man recently deported to Mexico has shared the harrowing experience of spending five months detained at an ICE facility in Texas. According to him, psychological pressure and threats were constant, aimed at coercing him into signing his departure to a country where he has neither protection nor legal status.
The case came to light through Telemundo, which captured his testimony along with that of other migrants held by Immigration.
Javier Basulto recounted that just six days ago, he was deported to Mexico after being held at the Karnes detention center. He described being handcuffed, taken to the border, and forced to walk into Mexican territory without a clear process or alternatives.
“In these places, they wear you down mentally to get you to sign,” he stated. In his situation, officers insisted that the deportation order came “from Washington” and that signing or not, “he was going to Mexico.”
His account aligns with previous allegations revealed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which recently sent a letter to ICE authorities, denouncing physical and psychological abuses at another center, Fort Bliss. This especially affects Cuban migrants who resist being sent to Mexico, as the United States cannot repatriate them to the island.
According to Telemundo, sworn testimonies include that of a Cuban identified as Eduardo, who claimed he was taken to the border and threatened with federal criminal charges if he did not accept deportation.
Others reported severe physical assaults, such as painful twisting and blows to the testicles, which forced one individual to be hospitalized.
While the Department of Homeland Security denies any abuse and insists all deportees are afforded protections under due process, the stories from Cubans reveal a scenario where fear, desperation, and uncertainty drive decisions.
For Javier, the nightmare didn’t end at the border. His greatest fear upon arriving in Mexico was being kidnapped. “They released us at 2:30 a.m.,” he recounted, highlighting being left in the middle of the night without information, support, or safety assurances.
Testimonies like his have surged in recent months, adding to previous investigations documenting the fate of hundreds of Cubans expelled to Mexico, where many become stranded in cities like Villahermosa, Tabasco, without papers, job prospects, and surviving in markets or on the streets.
Javier summed it up: “I was scared to return and afraid of what would come next.”
Questions on ICE Detention and Deportation Practices
What psychological tactics are reportedly used in ICE detention centers?
Detained individuals report experiencing constant psychological pressure and threats to coerce them into signing deportation papers.
How does the U.S. Department of Homeland Security respond to these allegations?
The Department of Homeland Security denies any abuse claims and asserts that all deportees receive protections under due process.
What are the fears of deported Cubans upon arriving in Mexico?
Many deported Cubans fear being kidnapped and face uncertainty and danger after being left without support or safety guarantees.