Orlais Lores Mayeta, a Cuban national, has been in custody with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Georgia for over a month. Meanwhile, his wife, who is five months pregnant, anxiously anticipates the arrival of their first child after years of trying to start a family.
Orlais was taken into custody by federal officers on August 2, not far from his home in Stockbridge, as reported by Univision Atlanta.
His wife, Kayla Lores Mayeta, a U.S. citizen, believes the situation arose from a potential error in her husband's residency application. She explained that their lawyer submitted the Cuban Adjustment Act application to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) instead of the immigration court, which was necessary due to Orlais's ongoing legal process.
"His attorney sent the Cuban adjustment package to USCIS when it should have gone to the immigration court," Kayla stated.
An immigration lawyer not involved in the case told Univision that jurisdiction for certain residency applications can fall under the immigration court when there's an open case, unless the individual is deemed an arriving alien, in which case USCIS can retain jurisdiction.
Orlais entered the United States in October 2021, was detained at the border, and later released on parole. Over the following years, the couple believed his immigration process was proceeding smoothly, and Orlais even completed the required medical examination for his application.
The issue came to light when USCIS identified that Orlais had a pending case in immigration court, leading the agency to administratively close his application.
For Kayla, the detention came at one of the most significant times in their lives.
"We've been married, trying for a child for three years. Now I'm five months pregnant, and they took my husband away," she expressed, struggling with her Spanish.
Orlais is currently held at the Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla, Georgia. An immigration judge denied him bail, and his final hearing is set for September 30.
Kayla claims she hasn't received a straightforward explanation for why authorities targeted her husband. "I've heard like three different reasons they're looking for him, and to me, they all sound like lies," she asserted.
ICE did not respond to Univision Atlanta's requests for comment, according to the outlet.
The detention has left Kayla bearing the household expenses, pregnancy costs, and legal fees alone. The family has launched a fundraising campaign to help cover these costs.
"He's missing out on so much. He wanted to be at every appointment with me, but he can't," lamented the young woman.
This case takes place amid a significant increase in ICE detentions of Cubans. Data from the Cato Institute revealed that administrative arrests of Cuban nationals rose from 207 in January 2025 to 1,008 in January 2026.
In April, ICE detained a pregnant Cuban woman facing a high-risk pregnancy, a case that highlighted the familial impact of immigration detentions.
Kayla admits she never imagined her own family would face such a situation.
"My husband was always showing me videos of people being picked up by ICE. I never thought they could really act the way they are," she expressed.
Now she hopes the process will allow Orlais to return home and be with her during the final stages of her pregnancy and for the birth of their first child.
The detention of Orlais highlights the complexities and challenges within the U.S. immigration system. Keep up with all developments in our U.S. Immigration section.
Key Questions About ICE Detentions of Cuban Nationals
Why was Orlais Lores Mayeta detained by ICE?
Orlais Lores Mayeta's detention appears to be linked to a mistake in the filing of his residency application, which was submitted to USCIS rather than the immigration court, despite having an open case.
What challenges is Kayla Lores Mayeta facing during her husband's detention?
Kayla is dealing with household expenses, pregnancy costs, and legal fees on her own. She also faces the emotional stress of her husband missing key moments in their pregnancy journey.
How has the number of ICE detentions of Cubans changed recently?
There has been a significant increase in ICE detentions of Cuban nationals, with administrative arrests rising from 207 in January 2025 to 1,008 in January 2026.