Immigration attorney Willy Allen III recently disclosed on his weekly program with Tania Costa on CiberCuba that the formal title of the U.S.-Ecuador deportation agreement might provide a legal foundation to challenge deportation motions for Cubans. According to Allen, the agreement's initial interpretation limits its application to individuals from Central America.
This insight emerged from a discussion with fellow attorney Jeffrey Shapiro. Shapiro attended a hearing where a judge rejected the government's motion to dismiss a case based on the agreement with Ecuador. In his decision, the judge included a copy of the agreement and its title, which Allen claims specifies its application to Central Americans only.
"Yesterday, I was talking to the esteemed lawyer Jeffrey Shapiro. He had a court case where the judge denied the government's motion to dismiss based on the agreement with Ecuador. The judge attached a copy of the agreement, and its title states it applies to people from Central America," Allen explained.
From this interpretation, Allen formed his main argument: "We are not Central Americans, so this could potentially save all Cubans facing deportation motions to Ecuador."
When asked if this could fully invalidate deportation motions for Cubans to Ecuador, Allen III stated, "I imagine it could. That's why I don't want to disclose further details yet, as we are studying it thoroughly," he said.
The attorney emphasized that the theory is preliminary. "It's very early," he cautioned, clarifying that he had yet to read the entire document: "I haven't had time to read it all. I saw the title and started thinking. So, we'll see what we can do with this information."
Allen mentioned that he, Shapiro, and his girlfriend—who also works at Willy Allen's law firm and is studying law—will delve deeper into the agreement. "We're considering everything: Jeffrey, my girlfriend, and I... The three of us will conduct further research to see how we can use this information for our clients," he stated, planning to return to Miami the following Monday for a deeper analysis.
The agreement between Washington and Quito was ratified through diplomatic notes in July 2025 and published in the Federal Register on November 17 of that year. This mechanism allows the U.S. to propose the transfer of third-country nationals to Ecuador, which can accept or reject each case. Effective transfers began in mid-January 2026, and according to monitoring organizations, approximately 121 people from various nationalities, including Cubans, had been transferred by June of that year.
This situation is not unprecedented for Cubans facing deportation to Ecuador. In January 2026, reports surfaced about a Cuban detained in New York with a deportation order to Ecuador, despite no ties to the country. Additionally, in June, the U.S. deported former MININT officer Rogelio Bolufé to Ecuador. The practice of deporting migrants to third countries with which they have no connection has drawn criticism from human rights organizations like Human Rights Watch.
Allen concluded his revelation with caution: "I don't know what's going to happen. I can't guarantee anything. But I believe it is something that could help us."
The implications of the U.S.-Ecuador agreement for Cubans are just one of many topics we closely follow in our U.S. Immigration section, where you'll find the latest updates on deportations, visas, and immigration rights.
Understanding the U.S.-Ecuador Deportation Agreement
What is the U.S.-Ecuador deportation agreement?
The U.S.-Ecuador deportation agreement is a mechanism that allows the United States to propose the transfer of third-country nationals to Ecuador. This agreement was formalized through diplomatic notes in July 2025 and published in the Federal Register in November of that year.
Could Cubans be exempt from this agreement?
According to attorney Willy Allen III, the agreement's title suggests it only applies to individuals from Central America, which could potentially exempt Cubans from deportation under this agreement.
Have there been previous deportations of Cubans to Ecuador?
Yes, there have been instances, such as a Cuban detained in New York in January 2026 and the deportation of former MININT officer Rogelio Bolufé in June of that year. These cases have been criticized by human rights organizations.