The former Cuban judge Melody González Pedraza, known for having sentenced four young people accused of launching Molotov cocktails in Villa Clara, faced the beginning of her final deportation hearing in the United States this Tuesday.
According to the lawyer Santiago Alpízar in a live broadcast hosted by journalist Mario J. Pentón, González, who presided over the Municipal Court of Encrucijada, arrived in the U.S. in 2023 under the humanitarian parole program.
However, she was reported by relatives of opponents and subsequently included on a list of repressors compiled by human rights organizations.
Since then, she has been detained at the Broward Transitional Center in Florida, awaiting a decision on her asylum application.
During the hearing, González's defense presented documents and witnesses to try to demonstrate that he did not act out of ideological conviction.
Lawyer Alpízar stated that the organization Cuba Demanda submitted to the court that the former judge was an active part of the repressive apparatus of the Cuban regime and that she imposed sentences without guarantees for political reasons.
He recalled that González sentenced four young people to three and four years in prison for the crime of assault, in a case where the evidence indicated that some of them were not even at the scene of the events.
One of the condemned, he said, was allegedly onboard a United States Coast Guard cutter at the time of the events, which was testified to by another person.
Additionally, it was revealed that the other two judges of the court where the trial took place signed sworn statements, accompanied by their identification cards, stating that they had not participated in the deliberation nor agreed with the verdict, which would confirm that the decision was made solely by González.
During the hearing, Samuel Rodríguez also testified on behalf of the people of Encrucijada, wearing a shirt featuring the faces of the sanctioned youths.
Rodríguez argued that González used ideological language in her rulings, acting as a loyal official to the Communist Party of Cuba.
Alpízar went further, pointing out that the content and tone of the sentences drafted by González clearly reflect a stance aligned with the regime's narrative.
In her opinion, she was not merely an executor of orders, but a judge convinced of the official narrative.
During the broadcast, Pentón also mentioned that González left Cuba while still serving in her official capacity as a judge, which —in his opinion— would not have been possible without the authorization of the Communist Party, thereby reinforcing her connection to the regime.
Alpízar suggested that the Cuban regime might be using González's case as a way to "test" the mechanisms of the U.S. immigration system by sending loyal figures to the government.
Another of the most sensitive elements revealed is that one of the young men convicted by González had been approved for humanitarian parole, but was incarcerated before leaving the country.
Furthermore, the relatives of the convicted continue to face pressures in Cuba, underscoring the persistence of repression.
Although in previous statements González has expressed remorse for her decisions and has reported pressures from the Cuban judicial system, Alpízar and other activists question the authenticity and timeliness of that "remorse", interpreting it as a legal strategy to avoid deportation.
The trial will continue on May 8, in the second part of the final hearing, when the former judge will be able to question the witnesses presented by the prosecution and introduce new elements for her defense.
The judge could issue his decision that same day or on later dates, depending on the evaluation of the evidence.
“The government doesn’t have to prove anything. It is the applicant who must demonstrate, with clear and convincing evidence, that they deserve to stay,” Alpízar emphasized during the broadcast.
The case of Melody González has sparked intense controversy within the Cuban exile community, with some demanding her expulsion due to her past as an oppressor of the regime, while others believe she may deserve a second chance if she can demonstrate a genuine change in her ideological stance.
In December, former Cuban judge Melody González remained detained in the United States, as reported by Mario J. Pentón, who also confirmed that the final court hearing is scheduled for January 21, 2025.
In June, she attended her first asylum hearing in the United States, after arriving in the country with humanitarian parole and being denied entry by authorities in Tampa.
Frequently asked questions about the trial of former Cuban judge Melody González
Who is Melody González and why is she being judged in the United States?
Melody González is a former Cuban judge known for issuing rulings against opponents of the Cuban regime. She is currently in the United States facing deportation proceedings after being listed as a repressor by human rights organizations due to her active participation in the judicial system of the Cuban regime. González arrived in the U.S. in 2023 under a humanitarian parole program, but was detained after requesting political asylum.
What legal actions did Melody González undertake in Cuba?
Melody González sentenced four young Cubans to three and four years in prison for the crime of assault. The young individuals were accused of throwing Molotov cocktails, although evidence indicated that some of them were not even present at the scene of the incident. The other judges in the court where the trial took place did not participate in the deliberation nor agreed with the sentence, suggesting that the decision was made solely by González.
What are the allegations made by Melody González's defense in her trial in the U.S.?
Melody González's defense argues that she did not act out of ideological conviction. During the hearing, documents and witnesses were presented to try to demonstrate that the sentences she issued in Cuba were the result of pressures from the Cuban judicial system and not of her own volition. González has expressed her remorse for her past decisions and has denounced those pressures.
What is the stance of the Cuban exile community regarding the case of Melody González?
The case of Melody González has generated controversy in the Cuban exile community. There are those who demand her expulsion due to her past as a repressor of the Cuban regime, and others who believe she may deserve a second chance if she can prove an authentic change in her ideological stance. This division reflects the complexity of the case and the mixed emotions it stirs among exiled Cubans.
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