For over 40 years, a woman has silently borne the weight of an assault that left a permanent mark on her childhood.
Now in her 40s, she has chosen to share her story in order to dispute what she believes to be a false narrative and to demonstrate that justice, even if delayed, can eventually prevail.
The case resurfaced in October 2025 when Rolando Marino Cordero Rodríguez, a 76-year-old Cuban, was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents outside his Miami home.
The arrest stemmed from a conviction related to a sexual crime dating back to the 1980s. Following the arrest, in November, his wife and stepdaughter defended him, portraying him as a reformed, hardworking, and sickly elderly man, asserting that the charges involved an alleged relationship with a 17-year-old minor.
However, that narrative omitted a crucial detail: the victim was only seven years old when the abuse began.
Victim's Courageous Stand
“Perhaps they know the story as he told them,” the victim, whose identity remains confidential along with her mother's, reached out to Univision journalist Javier Díaz to provide her exclusive account after witnessing the public defense of her assailant.
“He wasn't in a relationship with a 17-year-old. He committed a crime against a 7-year-old girl,” she emphasized.
The woman retains the police report from Hialeah, dated 1994, which includes the accused's statement and confession. According to her account, the abuse started when she was just seven and continued for nearly a decade.
The sexual assault persisted until she was 16. It was then, as a teenager, that she attempted suicide, an act that brought the years of abuse within the home to light.
A Sentence That Fell Short
Rolando Marino Cordero Rodríguez not only faced arrest but also confessed to the assault. The legal proceedings concluded with a 10-year prison sentence, a punishment the victim deems insufficient.
“I was never satisfied,” she states.
After serving his sentence, Cordero Rodríguez resumed his life in the United States, regularly reporting to immigration authorities and rebuilding his family environment.
Decades later, his arrest by ICE brought his name back to the forefront.
“In December, I found out he was in ICE custody,” the victim recounted.
The emotional impact was immediate. For her, knowing that he was finally facing immigration consequences was a long-awaited vindication.
“A tremendous joy. Now you can suffer. Now you truly suffer,” she expressed.
The Mother's Heartbreak
The account of the victim's mother is among the most harrowing aspects of the case.
She was in a relationship with Rolando Cordero for years and lived with him while the abuse occurred without—according to her—being aware of it.
“I couldn't believe it, heaven and earth came together that day. It was a very painful, very sad day for me,” she recalled upon discovering the truth.
She explained that it was she who, after hours of pressure and confrontation, compelled the assailant to confess. Now in her 70s, she admits she attempted to provide a father figure for her children but acknowledges her grave mistake.
“I never saw anything. Do you think if I had seen or imagined anything was happening, I would have allowed it? I think I would have killed him myself,” she confessed, asserting her complete ignorance of the systematic abuse against her daughter.
For her, the deportation of her former partner represents closure, though it does not erase the harm caused. “Now justice has truly been served because he is a despicable dog,” she stated.
Rolando Cordero's Deportation to Mexico
Cordero Rodríguez arrived in the United States in 1980 during the Mariel Boatlift. By the mid-1980s, he was accused and later convicted of sexual abuse. Since then, he has been listed in official records as a sex offender.
“He had just arrived from Cuba. Sometimes you come from Cuba and you don't know the laws of this country, and sometimes you make those mistakes,” his current partner explained in a November interview with Univision, attempting to frame the incident within the legal ignorance faced by many newly arrived migrants.
Cordero Rodríguez was released after serving his sentence, and according to those close to him, he did not commit any further crimes. For over 30 years, he regularly reported to immigration authorities without missing a single appointment.
In 1997, however, a deportation order was issued, which, for unknown reasons, was not enforced until October 2025.
Understanding the Legal and Emotional Implications
What were the initial charges against Rolando Marino Cordero Rodríguez?
Cordero Rodríguez was initially charged with sexual abuse, which occurred in the 1980s, and led to his conviction and a 10-year prison sentence.
Why was Cordero Rodríguez's deportation delayed?
The deportation order was issued in 1997, but for reasons that remain unknown, it was not executed until October 2025.
How did the victim discover the abuse was being publicly defended?
The victim saw public defenses of her assailant by his wife and stepdaughter, prompting her to contact a journalist to share her side of the story and refute the misleading narrative.
What impact did the ICE arrest have on the victim?
The arrest marked a significant emotional moment for the victim, as it represented the enforcement of long-overdue immigration consequences, bringing her a sense of justice and closure.