Florida's Democratic Senate candidate, Angie Nixon, has pledged exclusively to CiberCuba that if elected, she will champion any concrete measures that facilitate the regularization of Cubans holding the I-220A form under the Cuban Adjustment Act, regardless of their political origins.
"In the Senate, I will advocate for and support any concrete measures, no matter where they originate, that lead to the legalization of Cubans with an I-220A under the Cuban Adjustment Act," Nixon declared in the interview.
This promise comes at a critical juncture for hundreds of thousands of Cubans stuck in immigration limbo. It is estimated that between 400,000 and 500,000 individuals hold this form, issued by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to release migrants on their own recognizance. However, it neither equates to parole nor formal admission, thus failing to meet the requirements of the 1966 Cuban Adjustment Act for permanent residency.
The immigration status of Cubans with I-220A remains one of the most pressing issues for the community. Stay informed about this and other key topics in our U.S. Immigration section.
The situation has worsened dramatically: approvals for residency under this law plummeted from nearly 50,000 quarterly in 2024 to just 139 in the second quarter of 2026, with more than 342,000 cases pending according to federal citizenship and immigration data.
Nixon framed her commitment as a direct rebuke against the mass deportations of Cubans under the Trump administration.
"Donald Trump is the deporter-in-chief of Cubans, the president who has deported more Cubans than any other in history: between 13,000 and 15,000," she stated, acknowledging the lack of definitive official figures on the total expelled during the second term.
Data analyzed by Human Rights Watch, based on ICE information obtained through public records requests, indicate that approximately 8,500 Cubans were deported during Trump's second term up to August 2026; combined with around 3,400 from the first term, the total hovers around 11,900. PolitiFact rated Nixon's claim as "mostly true."
The candidate also criticized the impact of ICE raids on Florida's Cuban community.
"In decades, 67 years, Cubans have never felt such panic over deportation in the nation that has been their refuge," she remarked, adding that Republicans have turned Miami into "the national capital of ICE detentions."
Arrests of Cubans by ICE surged 463% between late 2024 and early 2026, according to data analyzed by the Cato Institute, with Miami's office recording over 41,000 arrests since January 2025.
"We cannot continue terrorizing victims of authoritarian governments who came to our country seeking refuge," Nixon concluded.
Her remarks come just four days before the special Senate elections in Florida, scheduled for November 3, 2026, to fill the seat vacated by Marco Rubio, who was appointed Secretary of State. Nixon faces Republican Ashley Moody in a contest where the latest polls show Moody with a statewide lead of four to eight points, although among Latino voters, the gap narrows to just one point, according to an NBC Miami survey published in mid-October.
Understanding the I-220A Form and Its Impact
What is the I-220A form?
The I-220A form is issued by ICE to allow migrants to be released on their own recognizance. It does not provide parole or formal admission, which means it does not meet the requirements for the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966 to apply for permanent residency.
Why is Angie Nixon advocating for Cubans with I-220A?
Angie Nixon is advocating for Cubans with I-220A to support their path to legalization under the Cuban Adjustment Act, aiming to resolve the immigration limbo many find themselves in due to the limitations of the I-220A form.
How has Trump's administration impacted Cuban deportations?
The Trump administration has been criticized for the high number of Cuban deportations. Estimates suggest that Trump deported more Cubans than any other president, with figures ranging between 13,000 and 15,000 during his terms.