U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested the Cuban Lázaro Vladimir Martínez Argundi this week, who has a criminal record for child sexual abuse-related offenses in Lansing, Michigan.
Martínez Argundi, 53, was presented along with four other illegal immigrants from Mexico and El Salvador among "the worst foreign criminals" detained in the country during the week, "convicted of second-degree murder, child sexual abuse, domestic violence by strangulation, and attempted rape," noted the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in a statement.
All those arrested are currently in ICE custody and awaiting deportation proceedings, specified DHS.
The ICE office in Detroit was responsible for the detention of Martínez Argundi, whose criminal record includes convictions for distribution or promotion of child sexual abuse activities and possession of child sexual abuse material.
In a post on social media platform X, DHS described him as “sick” and considered him among “the worst of the worst illegal foreign criminals” that the administration of President Donald Trump is removing from the streets.
"ICE carries out law enforcement operations specifically to comply with the executive order of President Trump — Securing our borders and protecting the American people against invasions — which empowers the DHS to identify and remove individuals with serious criminal records," the statement clarified.
The text quoted statements from the Undersecretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin, who stated regarding those arrested: “These are not minor offenses. They are predators, abusers, and murderers who, to begin with, should never have been in our country.”
"If you are in this country illegally and have harmed others, your days here are numbered," he warned.
In recent months, there have been successive arrests of Cuban citizens in the U.S. convicted of serious crimes, who have been deported or are awaiting their deportation.
Deportable Cubans may be transferred to a third country due to the reluctance of the Havana government to accept back emigrants with criminal records or those who have been outside the country since before 2017.
More than 42,000 island citizens are in the U.S. with final deportation orders, under supervised release, but the regime refuses to accept them.
In May of last year, Cubans Enrique Arias Hierro and José Manuel Rodríguez Quiñones were deported to South Sudan as part of a group of eight immigrants who had been convicted of serious crimes in the United States and had final deportation orders issued by ICE.
A federal judge's order Brian Murphy temporarily halted the deportation flight, which was diverted to a naval base in Djibouti, where the immigrants remained detained in precarious conditions, inside a modified container.
At the beginning of this month, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the measure, and finally the flight arrived before midnight on July 4th in South Sudan, a war-torn African country where none of the deportees have family or historical ties.
Meanwhile, as part of the tightening of immigration policy by the Trump administration, raids have also intensified, detentions in immigration courts and deportations of Cuban citizens previously admitted under programs such as I-220A or I-220B and in pending immigration processes.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuban Immigrant Deportations in the U.S.
Why is Lázaro Vladimir Martínez Argundi facing deportation in the U.S.?
Lázaro Vladimir Martínez Argundi is facing deportation due to his criminal record for serious offenses, including the distribution or promotion of activities involving child sexual abuse. He was arrested by ICE in Lansing, Michigan, as part of an operation to remove dangerous foreign criminals from the country.
What challenges does the U.S. face when deporting Cuban citizens?
The main difficulty is the Cuban government's refusal to accept the return of Cubans with criminal records or those who have been outside the country since before 2017. This forces the U.S. to seek third countries for the deportation of Cubans.
What measures has the Trump administration taken regarding illegal immigration?
The Trump administration has intensified raids, detentions, and deportations of illegal immigrants, focusing on those with serious criminal records. These actions are part of its policy to secure the borders and protect American citizens.
How many Cubans are facing deportation orders in the U.S.?
More than 42,000 Cuban citizens are in the U.S. with final deportation orders. They are under a supervised release regime due to the Cuban government's refusal to take them back.
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