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The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced on Friday the arrest of Cuban citizen Elkis Lázaro Hermida in Los Angeles, who was convicted of committing lewd acts with a minor.
Hermida, classified as a "child sexual predator" by immigration authorities, is currently in custody and facing a deportation process.
Hermida was originally arrested in May 2011 after admitting to having had a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old student while serving as a mathematics teacher at a high school in Los Angeles, according to the official report.
According to court documents, the encounters took place both on the campus and in motels on weekends.
The victim, identified in the documents as M. Sinai, claimed to have been manipulated by her teacher through social media and text messages.
In the criminal process, Hermida was found guilty of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor, a serious offense in the state of California.
He was later named a co-defendant in a civil lawsuit against the Los Angeles Unified School District for negligence in the hiring and supervision of the teacher.
However, Hermida was not formally notified of the civil trial and was dismissed from the process before the verdict. The school district was acquitted by the jury.
"ICE arrested Elkis Lázaro Hermida, an illegal Cuban immigrant with a conviction for lewd acts with a minor. This child predator is now in ICE custody awaiting deportation," said ICE Los Angeles in a statement posted on their official X account (formerly Twitter).
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) supported the action, reiterating that its priority remains "the enforcement of immigration law against individuals with criminal backgrounds."
Although Hermida was described by authorities as "undocumented," sources indicate that at the time of the events he possibly had residency or some type of regular status in terms of immigration, as he held a teaching position in a public school.
It is presumed that your status may have either expired or been revoked following your criminal conviction.
The detention occurs amid a tense political environment surrounding immigration in the United States, with the Trump administration reinforcing immigration control operations and prioritizing the expulsion of individuals with criminal records.
While some sectors of public opinion have applauded the measure, immigration activists insist on the need for fair processes that respect the civil rights of the accused, even in serious cases.
More than 42,000 Cubans have deportation orders in the U.S., but the regime refuses to accept them, according to internal ICE data obtained by Fox News.
For this reason, several detainees with criminal records have been sent to prisons in third countries: recently, two Cubans with a criminal history were sent to South Sudan.
Frequently asked questions about the detention and deportation of Elkis Lázaro Hermida
Who is Elkis Lázaro Hermida and why was he arrested in the U.S.?
Elkis Lázaro Hermida is a Cuban citizen detained in Los Angeles by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Hermida was convicted of committing lewd acts with a minor while working as a teacher at a high school. He is facing deportation proceedings due to his criminal record.
What is the current immigration status of Elkis Lázaro Hermida?
Elkis Lázaro Hermida is in ICE custody awaiting his deportation. Although he was described as undocumented, it is believed that he may have had some form of regular immigration status in the past, which could have expired or been revoked following his conviction.
How does U.S. immigration policy affect cases like Hermida's?
The current immigration policy of the U.S., reinforced under the Trump administration, prioritizes the deportation of individuals with criminal records. This has led to an increase in the detention and deportation of undocumented immigrants with criminal convictions, such as in the case of Hermida. Furthermore, the Cuban regime refuses to accept deportees, complicating the process.
What are the criticisms of the detention and deportation of immigrants like Hermida?
Immigrant activists criticize the need for fair processes that respect the civil rights of the accused, even in serious cases like that of Hermida. They argue that while public safety is important, immigration policies must ensure that human rights are not violated during deportation procedures.
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