Cuban boxer Billy Rodríguez, a Pan American medalist who left an official delegation in 2022, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Miami.
Rodríguez, 28 years old, was on probation under the immigration status I-220A while awaiting his court date to apply for political asylum in 2027.
His arrest has generated alarm among his family and sports community, who fear his possible deportation to Cuba, where they believe he would face reprisals for his defection.
Rodríguez fled from a Cuban delegation in Mexico after an international competition in August 2022, crossing the border into the United States in search of freedom and new professional opportunities.
In the United States, he signed with TBT Promotions and Miguel Cotto Promotions, two renowned companies in professional boxing, amassing an undefeated record of six victories by knockout.
How did the arrest happen?
Rodríguez's arrest took place on Sunday, August 10, after he was involved in a car accident while heading to his mother-in-law's house to pick up milk for his son.
At that moment, police officers detained him and handed him over to immigration authorities.
His wife, Lisandra Jardines, told journalist Mario Vallejo, for Univision, how she learned about what happened.
“I receive a call from him and he says, ‘I’m in custody.’ I ask him, ‘What do you mean, in custody?’ and he says, ‘Yes, I had an accident and they didn’t let me explain anything, they just took me away. Find a bail bondsman.’”, she recounted, visibly upset.
Lisandra immediately moved with her son in her arms to pay the bail that, as she was told, would allow for his release within a matter of hours.
However, by the end of the day, everything changed: “At eight in the evening, they called me and told me that it was not up to them. That it was an immigration issue and they had taken over the case.”
Rodríguez was transferred to the ICE detention center in the city of Miramar, in Broward County, where he has remained since then.
The family has not yet received a formal explanation regarding the reasons for the arrest, given that their asylum process was active and their next appointment with USCIS was scheduled for September 13.
"You'll go to prison": The fear of being sent back to Cuba
The possibility of being deported to Cuba causes distress for the boxer's family.
"You are a deserter; you cannot enter Cuba... you will be imprisoned. You have your family established, you have your son... my son turns one on Monday... everything, everything," said his wife through tears, reflecting the anguish that overwhelms her and recalling that the Cuban regime does not forgive those who abandon their official posts.
In 2022, the media JIT strongly condemned its decision.
“Turning his back on his contractual obligations, Billy Rodríguez decided not to return to Cuba after making his professional boxing debut last night. We condemn his attitude, which is contrary to the commitment he made”, wrote the sports portal.
A disheartened sports environment
The arrest has taken the boxer's technical team by surprise.
Franco González, his coach, confirmed the news to Telemundo 51.
“I was surprised that Billy did not show up for his training. It was then that I received a call from his wife, Lisandra, telling me that he had been arrested”, he described.
Rodríguez was training intensely for a title fight in September.
With an undefeated record of six fights won by knockout, his career was gaining momentum under the support of Miguel Cotto Promotions and TBT Promotions
Professor Eufrasio González, a member of his training team, stated to El Nuevo Herald:
"I hope everything resolves favorably for Billy, because he cannot return to Cuba. He came to this country to pursue his dreams of becoming a world champion and had renounced the Cuban sports system because he wanted to be a free man."
Although Rodríguez had an active immigration appointment set for 2027 and signed annually with USCIS as part of his asylum process, his I-220A status does not provide guarantees of protection against unforeseen detentions.
This form of probation has left thousands of Cubans in a legal limbo that can change due to administrative reasons or shifting interpretations of immigration policy.
A fractured family and a birthday without a father
In addition to the legal drama, the human impact is profound. The boxer's son is celebrating his first birthday this week and will not be able to celebrate it with his father.
"This has been a huge blow for everyone in the family. We were in the preparations for the party. Now our world has come crashing down," Lisandra told El Nuevo Herald.
The family has turned to attorney Wilfredo Allen to handle their legal defense.
"I contacted the lawyer's office to try to get the U.S. government to understand that deporting a defector athlete is the same as handing him over to a prison in Cuba," Lisandra emphasized in her statements to Univision.
"I have come to succeed."
Before his arrest, Billy Rodríguez had given an interview to the Herald where he expressed his determination as an athlete and as an exile:
"I have come to succeed and I trust in who I am and what I have achieved. I am a disciplined boxer, focused on my goals and I do not stop until I achieve them," he then said.
His career, initially driven by the promoter Rivalta Boxing, had gained new momentum with Cotto Promotions, positioning him as an emerging figure in the professional circuit.
As of the closure of this note, there is no additional information regarding the case.
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