The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the arrest in New Orleans of Eduardo Fundora-Setién, a 59-year-old Cuban with prior convictions for second and third-degree domestic violence in Louisiana.
The arrest occurred on August 7 and was announced on ICE's official account on X, as part of their "Worst of the Worst" campaign, which identifies and publicly exposes foreign criminals deemed highly dangerous.
According to the statement, Fundora-Setién is on the list of undocumented immigrants in the United States with a history of violent crimes, and who are facing deportation proceedings.
For now, it has not been specified whether his expulsion will be directly to Cuba or to a third country, although the file places him on the highest priority list for removal from the United States.
The agency reiterated that these operations are part of its strategy to remove individuals who pose a threat to public safety from the streets.
The case adds to a series of recent arrests of Cubans with serious criminal records.
On August 6th, in Texas, ICE arrested Osvaldo Rabiero Álvarez, 72, who was convicted of forgery, cocaine trafficking and heroin, robbery, and aggravated assault. In Florida, they apprehended Andrés Guilarte, who has a history of cocaine trafficking and motor vehicle theft.
In New Orleans, at the end of July, Eduardo Luis Machín Pozo, 64, was captured, having prior convictions for drug trafficking and possession of hazardous substances in Alabama.
In the same city, Cuban Lianet Peña Font was arrested, who served two years in prison for conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine.
The authorities have indicated that many of those arrested have final deportation orders or ongoing immigration proceedings.
Sometimes, the expulsion does not take place because the Cuban government refuses to accept nationals with criminal records, which forces U.S. authorities to send them to third countries.
In June, the Supreme Court authorized the government to resume deportations to third countries, even if they are not the migrants' countries of origin, by overturning a ruling that required prior assessment of the risks of torture or death in those destinations.
The decision represented a victory for the Trump administration and strengthened ICE's ability to carry out the deportation of foreign nationals with serious convictions, regardless of their nationality.
According to statistics from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), more than 42,000 Cubans in U.S. territory are considered deportable.
Some remain under supervised release, while others are confined in centers like the controversial "Alligator Alcatraz" awaiting their release.
The deportations of Cuban nationals with criminal backgrounds are part of a strategy to tighten immigration control implemented during the Trump administration, aimed at expelling foreigners that the government categorizes as "the worst of the worst": pedophiles, drug traffickers, rapists, gang members, and violent offenders.
The mass arrests of undocumented immigrants, carried out by ICE in coordination with other federal and state agencies and law enforcement, exceeded 149,000 in the first seven months of the year.
Although the entity has warned in X that "the arrests and deportations of illegal criminal immigrants will continue," it made no distinction in its message between criminals and people with irregular status in the country.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Arrests of Cubans with Criminal Records by ICE in the U.S.
Why did ICE arrest Eduardo Fundora-Setién in New Orleans?
ICE arrested Eduardo Fundora-Setién due to his prior convictions for second and third-degree domestic violence. The arrest is part of ICE's "Worst of the Worst" campaign, which aims to identify and deport foreign criminals deemed dangerous and who have irregular immigration status in the U.S.
What is the objective of the campaign "The Worst of the Worst" carried out by ICE?
The "Worst of the Worst" campaign by ICE aims to remove highly dangerous foreign criminals from the streets. This initiative focuses on detaining and deporting immigrants with serious criminal records, such as pedophiles, drug traffickers, rapists, gang members, and violent offenders.
Why are some Cubans with criminal records not deported directly to Cuba?
The Cuban government often refuses to accept nationals with criminal records. In response to this refusal, the U.S. has begun deporting these individuals to third countries, a measure supported by the Supreme Court that allows for deportation even if it is not to the immigrant's country of origin.
How many Cubans in the U.S. are considered deportable by the Department of Homeland Security?
More than 42,000 Cubans in U.S. territory are considered deportable. Some of them are on supervised release, while others are in detention centers awaiting their expulsion from the country.
What measures has the Trump administration implemented regarding the deportation of immigrants with criminal records?
The Trump administration has intensified immigration control and the deportations of immigrants with criminal records. This includes the detention and expulsion of those deemed a threat to public safety, even to third countries if the country of origin refuses to accept them.
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