ICE releases Cuban elderly man after a week of detention in Louisiana

José Francisco García Rodríguez, a 73-year-old Cuban-American resident of Lafayette, Louisiana, was released this week after spending seven days detained at a facility of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

"By the power and grace of God, and nothing less than a miracle, my father is home and in my arms!”, wrote Tyler García, one of his sons, upon hearing the news of his release.

"This is just the beginning; I still have a lot to work through, but for now, I want to take a moment to step aside and feel grateful. I have no words to express my gratitude for the endless love, support, prayers, and solidarity from each of you who made this possible," the young man added.

The arrest of José Francisco García sparked a wave of solidarity on social media and reopened the debate on the treatment of long-term immigrants with complicated legal situations.

Sudden detention of a hardworking and ill man

José Francisco García Rodríguez was detained by ICE agents on April 1, while he was on his way to work.

The agents transported him to the ICE Processing Center in Pine Prairie, located in Evangeline Parish, a rural area in southern Louisiana.

The news shocked his family and loved ones, who quickly launched a social media campaign to demand his release.

A long history of work, sacrifice, and struggle

García Rodríguez arrived in the United States 45 years ago, in 1980, during the Mariel exodus, escaping the repression of the Cuban regime in search of freedom and opportunities.

"He fled his country out of fear of his government and for the opportunity to come to the United States and live a better life," recounted his stepdaughter, Christian Cooper Riggs, in an emotional video shared on Facebook a few days ago.

Riggs explained that his stepfather arrived "with nothing, without speaking English and without an education," and that amidst the challenges, he made mistakes for which he paid with time in prison.

"In that struggle, he made some poor decisions. He was punished for them. He served his time well and decided he would never make mistakes like that again," he emphasized.

Since then, the Cuban would have led an exemplary life, raising his family, working shifts of 40 to 60 hours a week, and taking care of his wife, who suffers from dementia.

Despite his age and health issues—having undergone heart surgery a few years ago—García Rodríguez has continued to work in demanding physical jobs.

She has never applied for Social Security benefits and has regularly contributed with her taxes.

The immigration limbo: a struggle of more than a decade

For the past ten years, the family has unsuccessfully tried to regularize the grandfather's immigration status. At one point, they discovered he could not renew his work permit, which raised alarm bells.

According to Riggs, the lawyers advised him to "keep a low profile and wait for ICE not to take action," which resulted in a false sense of security.

"We didn't know he was on a deportation list," said the stepdaughter. "We thought that once he had served his sentences, everything was in the past. But that wasn't the case," she added.

Three weeks before his arrest, García Rodríguez confessed to his family that he feared being detained by ICE. Sadly, his fears became a reality.

"This is a problem that is solved with a scalpel, not with a machete," lamented Riggs while describing what he considers an injustice towards an elderly person, who has medical issues and cares for a sick wife.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the exact reasons for his release, the family received the news of his return with relief.

However, his legal situation is not resolved: he will need to appear soon at an immigration office, as confirmed by his son Tyler.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Detention and Release of José Francisco García Rodríguez