This Wednesday, a group of Cubans with I-220A gathered outside the office of attorney Eduardo Soto, who is handling the case, to show their support for Laura de la Caridad González Sánchez, the 26-year-old woman who was detained during an appointment with ICE in Miramar, in Broward County.
“Why are they arresting innocent people who are simply fleeing from a dictatorship, from a murderous communist tyranny?” questioned Lianeth Pérez in statements to Univision.
“As a legal movement in the state of Florida, we kindly request that it be taken into account that if we have not committed a crime, we have our lives organized and our asylum pending, please, we should not have to live with this terror,” said Sandra Vázquez.
“She has no record, no ticket from the police, she has nothing... Since she arrived in this country two years ago, just like me, just like my girlfriend, what we have done is work, 'file taxes', and study,” pointed out Danier Vega.
Vega referred to statements made by Trump in September 2024 - before winning the presidency - in which the then-presidential candidate said that immigrants who studied, those who held a university degree, graduated, and did everything right, deserved a green card.
“There are thousands of offenders on the streets doing all sorts of things, and they are free,” lamented the young man.
Among those interviewed was a cousin of Laura de la Caridad Sánchez, who had accompanied her to the appointment with ICE.
“She told me she couldn’t go out, that she was going to be kept in custody. I asked her why, and she said the laws had changed and that they didn’t know why she was going to be kept,” the young woman said through tears.
All the interviewees acknowledged that they are terrified of being deported.
The lawyer Eduardo Soto -who came out and greeted the demonstrators- declared to the aforementioned media that the detained young woman has every right to be released.
"Our client has the right to go out into the street. For me, this is a completely unnecessary measure," he pointed out; although he admitted that, in the current migration circumstance, "it has happened and will continue to happen."
When asked about the next step, he stated, "to take it to the streets, to bring it to freedom and to demonstrate that this is unjust and unnecessary."
Celia Sánchez -the mother of the young woman- was present at the demonstration and reiterated that her daughter has no criminal record and is studying nursing while working.
Univision reported that ICE indicated they are carefully reviewing Laura's case file.
Meanwhile, Laura de la Caridad González's mother has been in contact with Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar.
The unexpected detention
Previously, Celia Sánchez had expressed her distress in other statements to Univision, in which she said she felt devastated by her daughter's arrest.
"I am shattered, I am devastated, she is my only daughter.", she expressed. The woman recounted that at the immigration office, they did not provide a clear justification for her arrest.
"There is no kind of explanation; she was told there that it was a group that had been chosen at random," Sánchez noted.
Laura, who arrived in the United States in September 2022, was given an I-220A form and has her first asylum hearing scheduled for December of this year.
According to previous statements from the young woman's lawyer, that should ensure her the possibility of remaining free until her case is reviewed.
Possible changes in immigration policy
However, Eduardo Soto suggested that Laura's detention could be related to the new immigration measures promoted by the administration of President Donald Trump, who has promised to tighten the "catch and release" policy.
"The president Trump said that 'catch and release', which refers to detaining and then releasing individuals, will come to an end, and that he will focus on those who arrived in the last two or three years to review whether they should remain at liberty. And obviously, these are the measures being implemented", explained the lawyer.
According to the lawyer, this policy could affect an estimated one million people who have arrived in the United States under similar conditions since 2022, which would represent a drastic change in the way immigrant cases are processed in the country.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Detention of Cubans with I-220A in the U.S.
Why was Laura de la Caridad González Sánchez arrested by ICE?
Laura de la Caridad González Sánchez was detained without a clear justification during a check-in appointment with ICE. Although she has no criminal record and meets her obligations, her detention appears to be related to changes in immigration policies under the Donald Trump administration, which aim to tighten measures against recent immigrants.
What is the I-220A form and what does it mean for Cuban migrants?
The I-220A form is a parole order that allows immigrants to temporarily stay in the U.S. while they resolve their legal situation. However, it does not guarantee protection from deportation, especially under the new measures adopted by the current administration, which carefully reviews the cases of those who hold it.
How do the new immigration policies affect Cubans with I-220A?
The new immigration policies promoted by Donald Trump could lead to the detention and possible deportation of Cubans with I-220A. These policies focus on those who arrived in recent years, as part of an effort to tighten "catch and release" and reduce previous immigration benefits.
What measures are lawyers taking to assist Cubans with I-220A?
Immigration lawyers are preparing lawsuits and bills to try to lift Cuban nationals with I-220A out of immigration limbo. The goal is to reach an agreement with the government so they can obtain a parole document and eliminate the I-220A. Efforts are also underway on a bill that could provide them with permanent legal status.
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