The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has announced its intent to deport two Cuban nationals, each with criminal records and final removal orders. One of these individuals is currently in prison, while the other is in immigration custody due to criminal activities in New York and Florida.
The individuals in question are Daniel Rodríguez-Ricardo, who is serving a sentence and will be handed over to ICE upon his release, and Salvador J. Sotolongo, recently detained by immigration agents in Florida and awaiting deportation under ICE custody.
On October 1, the Buffalo office of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) revealed that Rodríguez-Ricardo, a Cuban national, has been convicted since 2011 for various offenses including theft, larceny, and drug possession, resulting in approximately seven years of imprisonment.
Additionally, ICE noted that an immigration judge had ordered Rodríguez-Ricardo's deportation back in 2014, but he remained in the U.S. ICE has committed to taking him into custody as soon as his current prison term concludes.
"ICE will be there when he is released to send him back home," stated ERO Buffalo, accompanying the statement with a photo of the Cuban.
Rodríguez-Ricardo's legal history also includes a 2017 conviction in Monroe County, NY, for first-degree criminal contempt, confirmed by New York's Supreme Court Appellate Division in December 2021. The court enforced a protective order against him, prohibiting contact with the victim, despite his appeals for a lesser restriction.
Florida Immigration Enforcement Updates
Separately, ICE Miami reported the detention of Salvador J. Sotolongo, another Cuban national with a final deportation order. Sotolongo's criminal record includes multiple aggravated assaults, weapons charges, domestic violence, and obstruction of justice, among other offenses.
ICE confirmed that Sotolongo is currently in custody as deportation procedures are underway.
These cases add to the list of recent arrests of Cuban nationals with criminal records and final deportation orders. In early October, ICE detained Jean Marcell Pérez García in Florida, a long-time U.S. resident with convictions for drug trafficking, fraud, resisting arrest, and theft. Although he was previously released by a federal judge due to prolonged detention without a clear deportation timeline, he has since been taken back into custody pending deportation.
In July, Elias Cardoza-Torres, another Cuban with a final deportation order dating back to April 2000, was arrested in Florida. Over the years, he accrued convictions for drug trafficking, burglary, vehicle theft, and a serious weapons-related crime.
Challenges with Historical Deportation Orders
The enforcement of old deportation orders has gained renewed attention in 2026. In February, Cuba accepted an ICE flight carrying 170 deported Cubans, including those convicted of serious crimes such as murder, rape, kidnapping, and drug trafficking.
U.S. officials have noted that Havana has historically been reluctant to accept certain deportees, especially those with criminal backgrounds, which has complicated the execution of numerous longstanding deportation orders over the years.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cuban Deportees
What is ICE's role in deporting individuals?
ICE is responsible for enforcing immigration laws, which includes detaining and deporting individuals who are in the U.S. illegally or have violated immigration laws.
Why is the deportation of Cuban nationals significant?
Cuban deportations are significant due to historical challenges with executing deportation orders, especially for individuals with criminal records, as Cuba has often been resistant to accepting these deportees.
How does ICE handle detained individuals with criminal records?
ICE detains individuals with criminal records and processes them for deportation, prioritizing those with serious criminal convictions and final removal orders.