A Cuban national named Raidel Gato was apprehended by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Tuesday, following his conviction for robbery involving the possession of a firearm or other deadly weapon in Miami, Florida, as per an official release from the Department of Homeland Security issued on Wednesday.
Gato's case has been featured in the "Worst of the Worst" campaign, an initiative by the Department of Homeland Security under the Trump administration. This campaign regularly disseminates bulletins with images and details of arrests of undocumented immigrants with severe criminal records.
The same release lists four other detainees of various nationalities: Benjamin Tomas-Reynoso from Guatemala, convicted of child abuse and neglect of an eight-year-old in Tennessee; Martin Guerrero-Guerrero from Mexico, convicted of drug trafficking in New Mexico; Ediberto Lopez-Lopez from Mexico, convicted of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and aggravated flight in Oklahoma; and Jesus Chavira-Ramirez from Mexico, convicted of arson in Ohio.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin endorsed the statement with a stern warning: "If you are here illegally, we will hunt you down and send you back to where you came from."
The arrest of Raidel Gato occurs amidst a persistent increase in ICE operations targeting Cubans in the United States. Available data indicates that ICE arrests of Cubans surged by 463% between October 2024 and January 2026.
The pressure on the Cuban community doesn't stop there. Over 42,000 Cubans have final deportation orders pending in the U.S., and in June alone, immigration courts issued more than 1,600 new deportation orders against Cuban nationals.
In the Miami metropolitan area, Cubans have become the nationality with the highest number of ICE arrests: between August 2025 and August 2026, 131 out of 451 detainees in Miami-Dade were Cuban.
Recently, two other Cubans were highlighted in the same campaign.
On August 27, ICE arrested Karel Pineda, who was convicted of first-degree sexual offense with a minor and arson in North Carolina.
The following day, ICE apprehended Manuel Victores-Alzola, a Miami resident, who holds three convictions for sexual acts with a minor within his own family.
The Department of Homeland Security maintains the public portal WOW.DHS.Gov, where citizens can view profiles of detained immigrants with criminal backgrounds.
By the end of July, this database was expanded with 5,000 additional names, surpassing a total of 35,000 records, including over a thousand Cubans since the campaign's inception.
The arrest of Raidel Gato is just one among numerous cases that illustrate the intensification of ICE operations in Florida and across the nation. Follow all the details in our U.S. Immigration section.
Frequently Asked Questions about ICE Operations and Arrests
What is the "Worst of the Worst" campaign?
The "Worst of the Worst" campaign is an initiative by the Department of Homeland Security that highlights arrests of undocumented immigrants with serious criminal records.
How has the rate of Cuban arrests changed recently?
The rate of ICE arrests of Cubans has increased by 463% between October 2024 and January 2026.
Where can I find more information about detained immigrants?
The Department of Homeland Security provides a public portal, WOW.DHS.Gov, where profiles of detained immigrants with criminal records can be accessed.