This week, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents apprehended two Cuban nationals in Florida who have been previously convicted of violent crimes, as reported by authorities.
According to a statement released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE agents took José Rivera Orta into custody on Monday. Rivera Orta, an undocumented immigrant from Cuba, has a conviction for lewd assault on a minor in Miami-Dade County, Florida.
On Tuesday, Rigoberto Iglesias Díaz was also detained by the federal agency. His criminal history includes a conviction for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Miami.
These recent arrests are part of ICE's ongoing crackdown under the Trump administration's stringent immigration policy, which prioritizes the detention and deportation of undocumented immigrants with criminal backgrounds, deemed a threat to public safety. The DHS has labeled many of these individuals as "Worst of the Worst."
ICE's Aggressive Approach
Commenting on the recent detentions, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated, "ICE has apprehended truly depraved individuals, including murderers, pedophiles, sexual predators, and violent offenders," further asserting, "We will not allow illegal immigrants with criminal records to roam freely in our communities, terrorizing innocent Americans."
The DHS has emphasized that nearly 70% of ICE arrests involve undocumented immigrants who have been accused or convicted of a crime in the United States.
Increased Arrests of Cuban Nationals
The arrests of the two Cuban nationals this week add to a series of detentions involving Cuban citizens with criminal records in Florida and other states in recent weeks.
During the Easter period, ICE apprehended Reinier Fuentes Armentero, Yordan Carreras Céspedes, and Israel Serrano Aguilera across various counties in Florida. Their criminal records include possession of child exploitation material, vehicle theft, and aggravated harassment.
Last Thursday, in Pennsylvania, Alexander García Peñate was detained. He has a previous conviction for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Florida currently leads in the number of ICE arrests of Cuban nationals, with 708 cases recorded by December 2025, primarily concentrated in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Collier counties.
Since the beginning of Trump's second term in January 2025, 1,901 Cubans have been deported, totaling 5,286 throughout both of the Republican president's terms.
Cuban Government's Cooperation
The Cuban government began to accept the return of nationals with criminal records from the start of 2026, facilitating the pace of deportations. The first flight of the year to the island, on February 9, transported 170 Cubans, at least fifty of whom had been convicted of serious offenses such as homicide, sexual assault, kidnapping, and drug trafficking.
ICE's Efforts in Deporting Criminal Immigrants
What crimes were José Rivera Orta and Rigoberto Iglesias Díaz convicted of?
José Rivera Orta was convicted of lewd assault on a minor, while Rigoberto Iglesias Díaz was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
How does ICE prioritize immigrant arrests?
ICE prioritizes the detention and deportation of undocumented immigrants with criminal histories, particularly those deemed a threat to public safety.
Why is Florida significant in ICE operations against Cuban nationals?
Florida leads in ICE arrests of Cuban nationals, with a high concentration of cases in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Collier counties.