The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has apprehended two Cuban nationals with extensive criminal backgrounds in separate operations conducted in California, as announced by the federal agency on its official social media account, X.
This Thursday, a statement from ICE San Diego confirmed the arrest of René Wilson, an undocumented immigrant from Cuba with criminal convictions for failing to register as a sex offender, indecent exposure, drug trafficking, and voyeurism.
ICE has stated that Wilson will remain in federal custody pending his deportation.
Earlier in April, ICE reported the arrest of Manuel de Armas, aged 67, who had previous convictions for tampering with a vehicle, possession of controlled substances with intent to sell, transportation and sale of a controlled substance, and making threats with the intent to terrorize.
These arrests are part of a series of recent detentions of Cuban individuals with serious criminal histories by ICE. This reflects the toughened immigration system in the United States under policies rolled out by President Donald Trump's administration since January 2025, aiming to curb illegal immigration and strengthen law enforcement.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has reiterated that about 70% of ICE arrests involve immigrants convicted or charged with crimes in the U.S.
Recently, ICE detained Juan García López in Miami, Florida, a Cuban with multiple criminal convictions, including two for intentional homicide. His profile has been included by the DHS in the "Worst of the Worst" list, highlighting foreign immigrants with the most severe criminal records arrested in the U.S.
Broward County authorities have handed over Noslan Ruiz Bernal, a Cuban arrested for the second time for armed burglary, to ICE.
According to a report from the Cato Institute based on official data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and ICE, the migratory landscape for Cubans has drastically changed since late 2024: fewer residency approvals and significantly more arrests within the country.
Detentions of Cubans by ICE have surged by 463% between October 2024 and January 2026. During the same period, there was a dramatic 99.8% drop in permanent residency approvals for nationals from the island, falling from over 10,000 approvals per month to just 15 in January.
In line with the increase in Cuban arrests by ICE, deportations have also risen, primarily to third countries due to the Cuban regime's reluctance to accept nationals with criminal records in the U.S. who have been residing there since before 2017.
Although no official statistics have been released, it is reported that at least 6,000 Cubans were deported to Mexico last year, a number that could be higher. Additionally, the Trump administration has sent Cuban citizens to African countries and others in the Americas, such as Ecuador.
Meanwhile, deportation flights to Havana continue. From January to the present, ICE has executed at least four air operations directly to the Cuban capital, repatriating a total of 494 individuals. Since the start of Trump's second presidential term, 1,992 Cubans have been deported to the island, totaling 5,377 over his two terms.
This Thursday, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling recognizing the right to a bail hearing for migrants in ICE custody, though this ruling does not necessarily benefit those with serious criminal records, who are subject to removal.
According to DHS data, as of 2025, 42,084 Cubans had definitive deportation orders.
Cuban Immigration and Deportation FAQs
What led to the increase in Cuban arrests by ICE?
The increase in Cuban arrests by ICE is attributed to the stricter immigration policies implemented by the Trump administration since January 2025, aimed at reducing illegal immigration and enforcing the law more aggressively.
How many Cubans have been deported by ICE recently?
At least 6,000 Cubans have been deported to Mexico in the last year, with additional deportations to African and Latin American countries, including Ecuador. Deportation flights to Havana have also continued, with a total of 5,377 Cubans deported during Trump's two terms.
What is the "Worst of the Worst" list?
The "Worst of the Worst" list is compiled by DHS to highlight foreign immigrants in the U.S. with the most severe criminal backgrounds, emphasizing those individuals who have been arrested and have extensive criminal histories.