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The family of Juan Manuel Fernández Ramos, a Cuban confined in an ICE detention center awaiting deportation, urgently sought help to prevent his return to Cuba, following the commencement this week of the deportations of immigrants from the island by the Trump administration.
Fernández was arrested in the city of Tampa and has been held at the Krome Detention Center of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in South Miami-Dade, for over 20 days, according to a post on Facebook by his wife Jessica Acosta Sánchez.
Acosta requested assistance to cover the legal representation expenses, which could amount to over $15,000, in order to prevent the repatriation of her husband, who has been detained in Krome for 25 days as of this Sunday.
"Beforehand, I make this call because we have no other options. As many know, Juan Manuel Fernández has been in KROME detention for 22 days waiting to be deported to Cuba. We have contacted many lawyers to stop his deportation, and none charge less than $15,000, money that everyone knows is difficult to gather from one day to the next," Acosta wrote in a post on Thursday, in which he attached a copy of a potential contract with a law firm that would represent Fernández.
The young woman pleaded with her husband's friends and family, and anyone who could help, “to be able to hire a lawyer quickly and start the process to stop his deportation,” emphasizing, “Every minute counts.”
Acosta specified to CiberCuba that her husband "was mishandled upon entering the U.S.," a country he arrived at by sea in 2022.
According to his explanation, the asylum officers did not conduct a credible fear interview with Fernández, despite him stating that "he was afraid to return" to Cuba.
Those who wish to assist the family in covering Fernández's legal representation can do so through a transfer to the Zelle account at +1 786 849 0763.
The concerns of the Cuban community in the U.S. have been growing since the return of President Donald Trump to the White House on January 20 and the implementation of his immigration strategy, focused on mass arrests and deportations of foreigners who are in the country illegally, aimed at curbing illegal immigration.
However, alarms went off completely on February 27, when the first deportation flight of the Trump administration took place, returning 104 individuals to Cuba: 84 men, 19 women, and one minor.
The recent flight chartered by ICE arrived at José Martí International Airport in Havana on Thursday, following a pause in these operations that occurred in January, which had resumed in April 2023 under the Democratic administration of Joe Biden. The previous deportation flight departed from Florida on December 19, carrying 42 Cuban immigrants, and was the 21st flight under the previous administration.
The detentions and repatriations of Cubans by ICE occur in the context of the tightening of immigration policies by the new U.S. government. Even the immigrants from the island with the I-220A form, who until now were considered exempt from the deportations initiated by Trump, have shown great concern after it became known that some under that status have been arrested and are facing a deportation process.
Since the beginning of Trump's second term, benefits such as humanitarian parole, appointments through the CBP One app, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for certain immigrant groups have been eliminated.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Deportation of Cubans from the U.S.
Why is Juan Manuel Fernández Ramos at risk of deportation to Cuba?
Juan Manuel Fernández Ramos was detained by ICE in Tampa and is currently at the Krome Detention Center in Miami-Dade, awaiting his deportation to Cuba. His wife has reported that he was mishandled upon entering the U.S. and did not undergo a credible fear interview, despite expressing his fear of returning to Cuba. The family is seeking financial assistance to cover the legal expenses necessary to prevent his deportation.
When did the deportation flights for Cubans from the U.S. resume?
On Thursday, February 27, the first deportation flight of Cubans under the administration of Donald Trump took place, following a pause in these operations in January. The flight chartered by ICE from Miami to Havana returned 104 immigrants: 84 men, 19 women, and one minor.
How does the Trump administration affect the deportations of Cubans?
The Donald Trump administration has implemented stricter immigration policies, focused on increasing the deportations of undocumented immigrants, including Cubans. Deportation flights to Cuba have resumed, and the humanitarian parole and other measures that previously provided some protection to Cubans in the U.S. have been eliminated.
What legal resources do Cubans have to avoid deportation?
Cubans at risk of deportation can turn to hiring immigration attorneys to present legal defenses, such as requesting political asylum or appealing deportation decisions. The Cuban Adjustment Act is another legal resource that allows Cubans to apply for permanent residency after one year in the U.S., although its application depends on individual circumstances and current immigration policies.
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