ICE apprehends 63-year-old Cuban in Philadelphia with a history of drug trafficking and firearms charges

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested the Cuban Orlando Sánchez Sarría, 63 years old, last Friday in Philadelphia. He has a prior conviction for drug trafficking and possession of a firearm.

Sánchez Sarría was sentenced to 386 months (32 years and two months) in prison in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, for the charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm, and use or carrying of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, according to information published on the official ICE website.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) included him in the “Worst of the Worst” list, which features undocumented immigrants “convicted or accused of heinous crimes that endanger the American public” and who have recently been arrested in the country.

The conviction of Sánchez Sarría to more than three decades of imprisonment dates back to 1993 and is set to be fulfilled this year, according to court records published online.

Sánchez Sarría joins a long list of Cubans detained in recent weeks across several states in the U.S., all with convictions for offenses deemed high-risk, and who have either already been deported or are awaiting their expulsion from the country.

The recent communication from ICE does not mention the inevitable deportation of the Cuban national, who could be sent to a destination other than his homeland if the Havana regime does not allow his return.

The island's government refuses to accept Cubans who have criminal records in the U.S. or who emigrated before January 2017.

The Trump administration has sent immigrants who have committed serious crimes -including Cubans- to third countries, amidst allegations of arbitrary detentions and lack of access to legal defense.

A ruling by the Supreme Court annulled previous judicial restrictions in June and granted the White House the green light to implement the deportation measure for certain immigrants to countries other than their countries of origin, including destinations where they face risks of torture or death.

Before the Supreme Court's final ruling, two Cubans with extensive criminal records had already been sent to South Sudan, while another was deported to the Kingdom of Eswatini in July. Meanwhile, an undisclosed number of citizens from the island have been taken to Mexico.

Official data from the DHS reports that there are over 42,000 Cubans with final deportation orders from the United States, but the regime's reluctance to accept them back has complicated the expulsion processes.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Detention and Deportation of Cubans in the U.S.