The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested on Wednesday in Texas and Florida two undocumented Cuban immigrants with previous convictions for serious offenses, such as assault and drug trafficking, who are facing imminent deportation.
The ICE office in Houston arrested Osvaldo Rabiero Álvarez, 72, who has been convicted of forgery, cocaine and heroin trafficking, theft, and aggravated assault in Jefferson County, Texas, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported in a statement published this Thursday.
Among those arrested on August 6 by ICE is also Andrés Guilarte, who has a criminal record for cocaine trafficking and motor vehicle theft in Naples, Florida.
The DHS announcement included Cubans on a list of violent criminals, drug traffickers, and pedophiles who were arrested the previous evening, as part of ongoing law enforcement actions aimed at capturing and deporting “the worst of the worst illegal immigrant criminals” from the U.S. The list also includes citizens from China, Jamaica, and El Salvador.
The Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, stated that ICE law enforcement “will continue to enforce the law and arrest the most depraved criminals, including pedophiles, terrorists, murderers, gang members, and sexual predators,” despite the risks they face due to “a 1000% increase in assaults against them.”
On Tuesday, another operation led by ICE resulted in the arrest of 42 undocumented immigrants in southeastern Houston. The operation focused on locating and apprehending migrants who pose a "significant risk" to public and national security, the agency stated.
These raids are part of the Trump administration's strategy to intensify immigration control in urban areas with a high concentration of immigrants. Among those detained are foreigners with serious criminal records and multiple recurrences of illegal entry into the country.
The massive arrests of undocumented migrants, carried out by ICE in coordination with other federal and state agencies and law enforcement, exceeded 149,000 in just seven months.
Although the entity warned the previous week in a post on X that "the arrests and deportations of illegal criminal immigrants will continue," it did not make any distinction in its message between criminals and individuals with irregular status in the country.
ICE has insisted that the arrests focus on individuals with criminal records; however, human rights activists have voiced concerns about the impact on working communities and the raids in residential areas.
In recent weeks, the DHS has increased arrests in immigration courts and public places, which has generated fear and frustration among immigrants who came to the U.S. in search of opportunities and freedom.
Cubans with irregular status -many of them under the I-220A and B programs- who do not have a criminal record or a final deportation order, have been arrested and confined in the controversial detention center Alligator Alcatraz, awaiting expulsion.
But the recent arrests have also included island citizens with serious criminal records or pending charges in the U.S., considered by authorities to be among "the worst of the worst" and “a threat to public safety” in the country. Some of them have an order of deportation.
According to DHS statistics, there are more than 42,000 deportable Cubans who remain in the U.S. under supervised release or confined in detention centers.
The administration Trump has deported Cuban nationals to third countries, due to the reluctance of the Havana regime to accept individuals with criminal records in the U.S. or those who have been outside their country since before the migration agreements of January 2017.
Meanwhile, the previous week, the current federal administration carried out the seventh air deportation operation to Cuba this year, in which 118 individuals were returned.
Frequently asked questions about the detention of Cubans with criminal records in the U.S.
Why were the Cubans detained in Texas and Florida?
Cubans were detained by ICE due to their serious criminal records, such as drug trafficking and theft, making them a threat to public safety in the U.S.
What strategy is the Trump administration implementing regarding illegal immigrants?
The Trump administration has implemented a strategy to intensify immigration control and deport illegal immigrants with criminal records, especially those who pose a significant risk to public and national security.
Why does Cuba refuse to accept certain Cubans deported from the U.S.?
The regime in Havana refuses to accept Cubans with criminal records or those who have been outside the country since before the migration agreements of January 2017, which has led the U.S. to opt for deportation to third countries, such as South Sudan, the Kingdom of Eswatini, and Mexico.
What impact do ICE raids have on migrant communities in the U.S.?
ICE raids have generated fear and frustration among migrant communities, especially among those who arrived seeking opportunities and freedom, as arrests do not always distinguish between criminals and individuals with irregular status who have no criminal record.
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