Related videos:
Adermis Wilson González, the Cuban who made headlines with a spectacular airplane hijacking in 2003, was finally deported to Mexico after spending nearly three months in an immigration detention center in Texas, following the refusal of the Cuban government to accept him.
Wilson, 56 years old, served a 20-year sentence for hijacking and was released in 2021 for humanitarian reasons due to his fragile state of health.
The transfer to Mexico took place by bus along with a group of 40 people, including other Cubans, without any official documents being provided to them, according to information shared with Café Fuerte by his sister, Yolaine Wilson.
"They released them after taking a photo. We have been in contact and sent him some money to help him survive there," he explained.
Wilson's family revealed that he managed to rent a shared room with another deportee, although they preferred not to disclose the exact location.
Her sister added that at least they are grateful he was not sent to an African country, which would have further complicated his situation.
Wilson became internationally known for the hijacking of the Cubana de Aviación flight from Nueva Gerona to Havana on March 31, 2003.
Armed with two grenades—which turned out to be fake—he ordered the pilot of the Antonov-24, with 46 passengers on board, to head to Miami. However, a lack of fuel forced an emergency landing in Havana.
After 14 hours of negotiations, involving Fidel Castro and the then head of the U.S. Interest Section, James Cason, the plane took off for Key West, escorted by F-15 fighters and a Black Hawk helicopter. Upon arrival, Wilson surrendered to U.S. authorities without anyone being harmed.
During his sentence, he studied English, graduated as a civil engineer from the University of Pennsylvania in 2013, and earned a master's degree in Logistics from the University of North Carolina.
After serving his sentence in a federal prison in South Carolina, he was transferred to an ICE detention center to begin his deportation process, which was temporarily suspended for humanitarian reasons.
On June 29th, the Cuban was arrested in Houston during an ICE operation.
ICE reported that Wilson is one of the 1,361 immigrants arrested in recent operations in the Houston area, which included individuals with criminal records for serious offenses.
His deportation is part of a broader offensive by the Donald Trump administration, following the Supreme Court's authorization in June to resume the deportations of migrants to countries other than their countries of origin.
In a recent statement, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) listed the places where migrants rejected by their countries of origin may end up: Eswatini, Uganda, South Sudan, and El Salvador.
Although Mexico is not on the list, several cases of deportations to the Aztec nation are known.
Cuba systematically refuses to accept its citizens with serious criminal records, leaving dozens of undocumented Cubans trapped in legal limbo and allowing the United States to send them to a third country.
Wilson's case is historic: he is the first Cuban to escape from the Island after an air hijacking and ends up deported from the United States after serving his sentence.
The family notes that the situation has been especially difficult due to the age and health of their mother, who is 87 years old, suffers from Alzheimer's, and resides in Houston.
Wilson expressed in the past his frustration over the uncertainty he experienced while awaiting a decision regarding his deportation, fearing for his family and his life.
"It would be the greatest irony of life, to flee from Cuba only to die in an immigration center in the most powerful country in the world, where I arrived seeking freedom," he said in a phone conversation with CiberCuba in 2021, from prison.
The deportation occurs in the context of intensified raids and mass arrests of undocumented immigrants by the U.S. administration, which includes individuals with criminal records or serious offenses.
Cuba, for its part, maintains the policy of not accepting back citizens with criminal records, which has forced the United States to send these individuals to third countries.
Frequently asked questions about the deportation of Adermis Wilson González
Why was Adermis Wilson González deported to Mexico and not to Cuba?
Adermis Wilson González was deported to Mexico because the Cuban government refused to take him back. Cuba has a policy of not accepting its citizens with serious criminal records, which leaves many Cubans in a state of legal limbo, being sent to third countries.
What was the crime for which Adermis Wilson González was convicted in the United States?
Adermis Wilson González was convicted of air piracy after hijacking a plane in 2003. During the hijacking, he used fake grenades to divert a Cubana de Aviación flight to Miami, although the plane had to make an emergency landing in Havana due to a lack of fuel.
What conditions did Adermis Wilson González face during his detention in the United States?
During his detention, Adermis Wilson González remained in an immigration center in Texas for almost three months. He was arrested during an ICE operation and faced a deportation process that became complicated due to Cuba's refusal to accept him back because of his criminal record.
How has Adermis Wilson González's deportation affected his family?
The deportation of Adermis Wilson González has been particularly challenging for his family due to his mother's health, as she suffers from Alzheimer's disease. The uncertainty surrounding his situation has been a significant emotional burden for his loved ones, who have been in contact with him and have provided financial support since his relocation to Mexico.
Filed under: