Randy Mesa, a 30-year-old barber from Pinar del Río, Cuba, has been confined for more than a year at the Adams County Correctional Center in Natchez, Mississippi, separated from his wife and with no release date in sight.
In an interview with Univisión, Randy explained that he was arrested in June 2025 in Miami while attending an immigration court appointment, just a few months after marrying Roxana Reguero, a fellow Cuban who has residency in the United States through the Cuban Adjustment Act.
He entered the U.S. back in February 2022 via the southern border using the I-220A form, and asserts he has no criminal record whatsoever.
Dreams of a New Life Shattered
The couple had aspirations of buying a home and opening a barbershop, but those plans have crumbled.
"Virtually all our money and resources for that dream have gone to lawyers. It's been a dream that's collapsed," Roxana lamented.
Following his arrest, ICE agents pressured Randy to sign for his self-deportation back to Cuba. He refused. Initially, he was moved to the Broward Transition Center in Pompano Beach, then transferred to Mississippi, over a thousand kilometers away from his wife.
Legal Struggles and Emotional Toll
Throughout the past year, his legal team has pursued several avenues without success: asylum was denied, bail was refused, and most recently, he filed a habeas corpus to challenge the legality of his extended detention.
Randy outlined his remaining options: "I have my appeal for the denied asylum, my family petition with my wife, and my Cuban Adjustment status which hasn't been revoked."
His lawyer suggests that the move to Mississippi was deliberate. "It's a strategy the government has found effective. They've decided that those who are unlawfully detained don't deserve bail due to their method of entering the U.S.," he explained.
The physical and emotional impact on Randy has been severe, resulting in a 30-pound weight loss during his confinement.
Roxana has been forced to juggle multiple jobs to cover the legal expenses. She has only managed to visit her husband once in Mississippi, and he urged her not to return due to the high cost and the emotional toll it took on her.
"It's been a year of our lives on hold; we don't know what's going to happen, we don't know what lies ahead for us," she expressed.
A Pattern of Targeting Cuban Immigrants
Randy's case is part of a documented pattern observed by human rights organizations: since 2025, ICE has ramped up detentions of Cubans with I-220A at their own supervision and asylum court appointments, moving them to facilities in remote states, making legal defense more challenging.
The Adams County Correctional Center in Natchez has been identified as a frequent destination for Cubans relocated from Florida. This also affected the Cuban rapper known as El Insurrecto, detained in December 2025 and sent to the same facility.
The couple is holding on to hope through an appeal to Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart, who reportedly indicated he would review the case.
From his cell in Mississippi, Randy sends a direct message: "There are human beings here, we are not criminals, we need the chance to prove it."
Understanding Randy Mesa's Detention Case
Why was Randy Mesa detained in the first place?
Randy Mesa was detained in June 2025 during an immigration court appointment in Miami, despite having no criminal record.
How has Randy Mesa's detention affected his family?
Randy's detention has placed a financial and emotional burden on his wife Roxana, who has had to work multiple jobs to cover legal fees, and has only been able to visit him once.
What are Randy Mesa's legal options now?
Randy is pursuing several legal avenues, including an asylum appeal, a family petition with his wife, and maintaining his Cuban Adjustment status.