Related videos:
Agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained two illegal Cuban immigrants this week who had a history of drug trafficking and other serious crimes.
Miguel Cabrera and Ernesto Rodríguez Cotilla were arrested in separate immigration operations carried out by the ICE offices in San Diego and New Orleans, and are awaiting deportation.
Cabrera, 68 years old, has a criminal record for transporting and selling narcotic and controlled substances, assault, and vandalism.
ICE's publications on the social media platform X warned that the Cuban citizen will remain in custody pending a deportation decision by an immigration judge. “Public safety demands that repeat offenders like this be expelled from our communities,” the agency emphasized.
For its part, ICE New Orleans reported the arrest of Rodríguez, who has a criminal record including drug trafficking, possession of cocaine, robbery, trespassing, fraud, possession of narcotics equipment, and possession of stolen property.
The cases of Cabrera and Rodríguez add to the increasing number of Cubans with criminal records who have been detained by ICE in various states across the U.S. in recent weeks, many of whom have already been deported or are awaiting their expulsion from the country.
Both immigrants could be deported to third countries if they are not admitted by the regime in Havana, which refuses to accept Cubans with criminal records in the U.S. or those who emigrated before January 2017.
The administration of President Donald Trump has expelled immigrants who have committed serious offenses -including Cubans- to third countries, amid allegations of arbitrary detentions and lack of access to legal defense.
In June, the Supreme Court overturned previous judicial restrictions and gave the White House the green light to deport immigrants to countries other than their country of origin, including destinations where they face risks of torture or death.
Prior to the decision of the Supreme Court, two Cubans with extensive criminal records had already been sent to South Sudan, while another was deported to the Kingdom of Eswatini in July. An undisclosed number of citizens from the island have been taken to Mexico.
This week it was revealed that Adermis Wilson González, the Cuban who hijacked a plane in 2003 from the Isle of Youth, was finally deported to Mexico, after spending nearly three months in an ICE immigration center in Texas. The Cuban government refused to accept him, as reported by the site CaféFuerte.
Frequently asked questions about the deportation of Cubans with criminal records in the U.S.
Why will Miguel Cabrera and Ernesto Rodríguez Cotilla be deported?
They will be deported due to their criminal records for drug trafficking and other serious offenses. Miguel Cabrera has a history of transporting and selling narcotics, as well as assault and vandalism, while Ernesto Rodríguez Cotilla has been arrested for drug trafficking, possession of cocaine, robbery, fraud, and more. The U.S. deportation policy focuses on immigrants with criminal backgrounds.
What happens if Cuba does not accept deportees with criminal records?
The U.S. is deporting these immigrants to third countries if Cuba does not accept them. The administration has begun sending Cubans with criminal records to countries such as South Sudan and the Kingdom of Eswatini, due to the Cuban regime's refusal to accept citizens with criminal convictions or those who left Cuba before 2017.
How does the Trump administration's deportation policy affect Cubans in the U.S.?
The "zero tolerance" policy of the Trump administration has intensified the deportations of Cubans with criminal records. More than 149,000 undocumented immigrant detentions have been recorded in seven months, and a significant number of Cubans with criminal backgrounds have been arrested and are facing deportation. This policy has generated tension and concern within the Cuban community in the U.S.
What is the process that Cubans detained by ICE face before being deported?
The detainees are placed under the custody of ICE and await a decision from an immigration judge. This process may include a review of their cases and verification of their criminal history. If a country does not accept the deportee, ICE may choose to send them to a third country. Recent court decisions have facilitated these deportations to alternative countries.
Filed under: