Immigration attorney Wilfredo Allen sent a reassuring message to Cubans regarding those subject to an I-220 form (Order of Release on Parole) following Donald Trump's recent victory.
In statements to journalist Daniel Benítez (Univision), Willy Allen expressed that he is not concerned about Cubans with I-220 A and predicted that “they will surely all be legalized.”
"I'm not worried. What's the elephant's pace? Slow but crushing. The I220-A are slow and crushing. Everything is going to be legalized," he stated, though he also took the opportunity to share a couple of important tips.
"You should not be worried because as long as you go to court, as long as you present your asylum, do not fail, do not commit crimes, we have a process in place, and I am confident that everyone will be able to regularize their status," he assured.
Regarding the significant danger of missing court dates, Allen mentioned the case of a Cuban who failed to appear in court and was deported a year ago.
“She prepared a motion to reopen the case, but it has already been denied. There’s nothing that can be done. It won’t be legalized, and she won’t get residency,” she stated.
"Very important, if you have a court date, show up on time," he said, recounting an unfortunate incident that happened to another Cuban recently.
He detailed that the migrant in question had a court appointment in Miami but lived in Chicago. Unfortunately, the day before his appointment, he was not allowed to board the plane due to a problem with the surnames of himself and his daughter at check-in.
He ended up making the journey from Chicago to southern Florida in his car and arrived in Miami a day after his appointment.
"If you have a hearing far from where you live, plan ahead and arrive on time," noted the lawyer.
Willy Allen stated that missing a court date today is bad, but added that it will be much worse to miss it starting in January, when Donald Trump officially begins his second term in the White House.
"The I-220A, as long as they go to court, while presenting their asylum, and as long as they do not commit criminal offenses, have zero worries. Remember the elephant's step, slow but crushing," he concluded.
Wilfredo Allen is not the only lawyer who has expressed confidence that the problem of Cubans with I-220A will be resolved; attorney José Guerrero also expressed optimism in recent statements to Univision journalist Javier Díaz.
"I believe that the issue with the I-220A will be resolved in this administration. We cannot guarantee anything; we need to allow some time, but I truly believe that with this administration and with María Elvira Salazar advocating for all I-220A cases, that problem will be addressed," she stated.
Cuban-American Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar, recently re-elected to her position, is one of the most active political figures in Florida advocating for the legalization of Cubans with I-220A.
In recent months, a growing number of Cubans who were released with the I-220A form have insisted on being recognized for their entry into the United States.
Cubans with an I-220A who have been in the United States for over a year and a day cannot apply for residency under the Cuban Adjustment Act because the law specifies parole as a requirement, not the I-220A.
The U.S. government grants the I-220A to certain individuals who have been detained and subsequently released by immigration officials.
In the past year, on several occasions, Cubans have gathered in front of the famous Versailles restaurant in Miami—and even in Washington—to demand an end to deportations to Cuba and to request regularization for those who received an I-220A document upon entering the United States.
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