Randy Mesa Padrón, a 30-year-old Cuban barber from Pinar del Río, has been held in an immigration detention center in Mississippi for over a year without committing any crime. His family is raising concerns about the devastating human, legal, and economic toll of his prolonged detention.
In a report by Telemundo 51 Miami, Mesa provided an interview from inside the detention center, describing his harsh reality. Attempts by Telemundo to get a response from ICE and the Border Patrol went unanswered by the time the story was published.
Unjust Detention Despite Compliance
Mesa entered the United States through the southern border in February 2022 using the I-220A form, which allowed him to stay in the country under supervision while his immigration case was pending. He attended all required appointments. However, on June 3, 2025, his application for political asylum was denied during a hearing in Miami.
"ICE was waiting for me at the door. From that day until now, I've been detained," he recounted from his cell.
"It's something I never imagined. Being imprisoned for a year without committing any crime is incredibly difficult," he added.
From within the center, Mesa also spoke up for other migrants: "Our rights as human beings should be respected. We are not criminals."
The Emotional and Physical Toll of Detention
The extended detention has taken a visible toll on Randy Mesa, who detailed the personal cost of his confinement.
"Imagine, in a year, I've only seen my wife once. I've lost over 30 pounds. The stress has given me a lot of gray hair," he revealed.
Describing the daily reality inside the center, he stated, "We see very few people leave this place, only deportation. And those who don't accept deportation are in the same situation as me."
Mesa mentioned that more migrants continue to arrive at the center, most of whom remain detained because they refuse to be deported.
Legal Strategy and Strategic Transfers
Wilfredo Allen, one of Mesa's three lawyers, appealed the asylum denial and filed a habeas corpus petition in the Federal Court of the Southern District of Mississippi. The government responded in April 2026, but no decision has been made yet.
Allen claimed that the detention is part of a deliberate strategy: "They force him to close the asylum case to try to deport and detain him."
The lawyer also criticized the transfer of migrants from Florida: "I believe they have intentionally moved people from Florida to Louisiana and Mississippi, where federal districts are known to rule against releasing detainees."
Regarding the judges handling these cases, Allen was blunt: "Who are the detention judges? Most are ex-military, chosen because their job is to deny."
Mesa is currently held at the Adams County Correctional Center in Natchez, the same facility where Cuban rapper known as El Insurrecto has been detained since December 2025.
Family Struggles Between Miami and Cuba
Randy's wife, Roxana Reguero, 28, also Cuban and a legal resident, has been left to shoulder the economic and emotional burden alone. "It's been very hard for me. I never thought I'd be alone in this great country," she expressed.
The couple's plans, years in the making, have been shattered: "We spent three years preparing to buy a house, and now everything has gone to lawyers," she lamented.
Mesa is pursuing three legal avenues: appealing the denied asylum, a family petition I-130 filed by his wife in December 2024, and his Cuban Adjustment Act status, which remains intact.
The family also hopes for intervention from Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart, who has reportedly indicated he will review the case.
Understanding Randy Mesa's Detention Case
Why has Randy Mesa been detained for so long?
Randy Mesa has been detained due to the denial of his asylum application and ongoing legal appeals, which have yet to be resolved.
What legal actions are being taken on behalf of Randy Mesa?
Mesa's legal team has filed an appeal against the asylum denial and a habeas corpus petition. They are also pursuing a family petition and maintaining his Cuban Adjustment Act status.