On April 15, Border Patrol agents from the Jackson Station, part of the Miami Sector, apprehended a Cuban immigrant without legal documentation, labeling him a dangerous criminal with a significant criminal record, in violation of the Laken Riley Act.
This arrest was made public on Monday by Samuel B. Briggs II, the acting chief of the Miami Sector Border Patrol, through his official account on X. "On April 15, 2026, agents from the Jackson Border Patrol Station apprehended a dangerous illegal Cuban immigrant for violating the Laken Riley Act. He will soon be processed for illegal entry and deported," stated Briggs.
The authorities did not disclose the identity of the individual detained or the specific crimes that led to his arrest under this legislation.
Understanding the Laken Riley Act
The Laken Riley Act was the first law signed by President Donald Trump during his second term, on January 29, 2025. It is named after a 22-year-old nursing student who was tragically killed in Georgia by an undocumented Venezuelan immigrant previously arrested but not handed over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
This legislation mandates the Department of Homeland Security to issue detainer orders and hold undocumented immigrants without bail if accused, arrested, or convicted of home invasion, theft, larceny, shoplifting, assaulting law enforcement, or any crime resulting in death or severe bodily injury.
Florida's Role in Immigration Enforcement
Florida ranks as the state with the highest concentration of Cuban detainees by ICE: 708 out of the 1,152 Cubans arrested by January 2026 were captured in Florida, with 60% concentrated in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Collier counties.
Nationwide, over 17,500 illegal immigrants had been arrested under the Laken Riley Act by December 2025, according to data from the Department of Homeland Security.
Deportations and Changing Cuban Policies
In parallel, ICE has conducted operations in Florida targeting Cubans with serious criminal backgrounds during the early months of 2026, as part of the Trump administration's maximum pressure campaign against illegal immigration with criminal records.
Regarding deportations, the United States executed three flights to Cuba in 2026. The first occurred on February 9 with 170 Cubans, the second on February 19 with 116, and the third on March 19 with 117 migrants, totaling 403 deportees so far this year.
A significant change facilitated these operations. For the first time, the Cuban regime began accepting deportees with criminal records in the U.S. prior to 2017, reversing a long-standing policy of refusal that had for years necessitated sending such deportees to third countries.
Key Questions About the Laken Riley Act and Cuban Deportations
What is the Laken Riley Act?
The Laken Riley Act is a law signed by President Donald Trump in 2025, requiring the detention of undocumented immigrants accused or convicted of certain crimes without bail.
Why was the Cuban immigrant arrested in Florida?
The Cuban immigrant was arrested for violating the Laken Riley Act and is considered a dangerous criminal with a substantial criminal history.
How has Cuba's deportation policy changed recently?
Cuba has begun accepting deportees with criminal records from the U.S. prior to 2017, a significant shift from its previous policy of refusal.