The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported on Wednesday the apprehension of Reynaldo C. Zayas, a Cuban national residing in Florida with a final deportation order and a criminal record, as stated by the federal agency.
ICE's Miami office revealed that Zayas has been convicted of trafficking methamphetamine or amphetamine, possession of controlled substances, and assault, along with a probation violation related to a domestic violence case.
The agency did not specify when these convictions were handed down, which courts handled the proceedings, or the date Zayas received his final deportation order.
Arrest records reviewed by CiberCuba identify the individual as Reynaldo Chamizo-Zayas. A Miami-Dade record notes his custody intake on July 17, 2026.
His name resurfaces in public databases that compile arrests made in Miami-Dade at the end of September. However, these secondary records do not independently clarify the charges or process prompting each intake, thus should not be seen as new convictions. The Miami-Dade arrest index lists Chamizo-Zayas Reynaldo among its recent entries.
ICE has not immediately clarified if Zayas is currently held in an immigration detention center or when his deportation might be carried out.
A final deportation order indicates that the immigration procedure determining the individual's removability has concluded administratively, though each case's circumstances may vary, and further legal actions or appeals may occur.
This announcement is part of ICE Miami's ongoing effort to publicize the arrests of immigrants with deportation orders and criminal backgrounds in Florida. In Zayas's case, the attributed convictions come from information released by the federal agency itself.
Just a day prior, ICE disclosed cases involving Daniel Rodríguez-Ricardo and Salvador J. Sotolongo, both Cubans with deportation orders and criminal records. Sotolongo was apprehended in Florida and placed under ICE custody, while the agency indicated it would assume custody of Rodríguez-Ricardo upon the completion of his current jail term.
Earlier in October, ICE once again detained Jean Marcell Pérez García in Florida, a Cuban who has spent over two decades in the United States with convictions for drug-related offenses, fraud, resisting arrest, and theft. A federal judge had released him months earlier, citing the prolonged nature of his immigration detention without a viable deportation timeline at the time.
This scenario impacts thousands of Cubans. Between October 2025 and June 2026, Florida's immigration courts issued 4,007 deportation orders against Cuban nationals, with 1,642 orders against Cubans across the United States in June alone. Having a deportation order does not necessarily mean the immediate execution of deportation.
Key Questions About ICE Arrests and Deportation Orders
What is the significance of a final deportation order?
A final deportation order indicates the completion of the administrative process that determines an individual's removability from the United States. However, it does not automatically result in immediate deportation as legal challenges or appeals may still be pending.
How does ICE decide whom to arrest for deportation?
ICE typically targets individuals with final deportation orders and those with criminal records. The agency prioritizes cases where individuals pose a public safety threat or have committed serious crimes.