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The arrests of Cubans with I-220A immigration status continue to rise in the United States under the tough policies promoted by Donald Trump.
The new case involves Pastor Michel Roque Armas, a native of Pinar del Río, who was arrested in San Antonio, Texas, after attending a routine appointment with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The arrest took place three months ago, but the family decided to make it public now after receiving a deportation order issued on Friday by an immigration judge.
According to what his wife Rosmery reported to the journalist Javier Díaz from Univisión, the measure would be devastating for her, as she would be left alone in the country with her five-year-old daughter.
The woman emphasized that her husband "is a good man" and has no criminal record in the United States.
A policy that criminalizes all emigrants
Roque's case adds to that of other Cubans with I-220A who have come under the radar of ICE in recent months.
Although this document does not grant residency, it has allowed thousands to remain in the United States while awaiting a determination of their status and the possibility of applying for the Cuban Adjustment Act.
However, the recent raids and arrests reflect a clear pattern: Trump's immigration policy targets those trying to regularize their status, even if they have no criminal record.
This Monday, the arrest of Yasmani Guía Pablo, a Lyft driver in Georgetown, Texas, and also holder of I-220A was reported.
He was arrested while at work on the accusation of being intoxicated, something that his wife—a U.S. citizen—firmly denied, claiming it was a racist incident.
Yasmani, a Christian musician and composer, now faces the threat of deportation.
Stories of abuse and desperation
The testimonies are repeated.
Rogelio Lázaro González Moya, 26 years old, was detained in Miami after attending his first immigration hearing last June.
Since then, he has been moved to facilities in Florida, Texas, and Arizona, enduring extreme conditions: chaining, confinement in ice-cold cells, and inadequate food.
In Phoenix, Arizona, a young Cuban woman was arrested as she left her job even though she had a valid work permit. She spent a month in a detention center until she was released with an electronic ankle monitor.
His account shows how even those who fulfill their legal obligations can be punished under these measures.
In Miami, journalists have documented raids in immigration courts, where Cubans with I-220A were arrested upon leaving their hearings with ICE.
The political backdrop
The tightening of these actions is not accidental. It is part of Trump's agenda in his second term, characterized by a crusade against illegal immigration that has had a particular effect on Cubans.
Although the Cuban Adjustment Act recognizes migrants from the Island as victims of a dictatorship, today many of them live under the constant fear of being deported.
It doesn't matter if they work, pay taxes, and fulfill their obligations in the hope of regularizing their status.
The official message seems to be that patience and adherence to the rules do not guarantee remaining in the country.
The case of Michel Roque Armas symbolizes this contradiction: a family man who came to the United States leaving behind the Cuban regime, but who today faces the threat of being expelled by a system that punishes immigration status more than actual crimes.
The Cuban community watches with concern this pattern of persecution. Each new arrest reinforces the notion that, instead of being protected as political refugees, I-220A holders are treated as criminals in a country that has historically been a refuge for those persecuted from the Island.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Detentions of Cubans with I-220A in the United States
What is the I-220A form and what is its purpose?
The I-220A document is a supervised release order issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the United States. It does not grant legal immigration status nor does it allow for legal employment. However, it permits migrants to reside temporarily in the country while their legal situation is being resolved. This document is common among Cubans seeking to regularize their immigration status in the United States.
Why are the detentions of Cubans with I-220A increasing?
The arrests of Cubans with I-220A have increased due to the tough immigration policy implemented by Donald Trump's administration during his second term. This policy aims to curb irregular immigration, even impacting those migrants who have no criminal records and fulfill their legal obligations. Many of these Cubans live in a state of uncertainty, as the I-220A does not guarantee protection against deportation.
What risks do Cubans with I-220A face in the United States?
Cuban individuals with I-220A face the risk of being detained and deported despite having no criminal record. The current policy treats them as illegal immigrants, subject to deportation without regard for their attempts at regularization. Furthermore, the I-220A document keeps them in legal limbo, with no access to work permits or to a regularized immigration status, which increases their vulnerability to ICE actions.
How does Trump's immigration policy affect Cubans in the United States?
The immigration policy of Donald Trump has intensified actions against irregular immigration, particularly affecting Cubans seeking to regularize their status in the United States. Detentions and deportations have increased under his administration, even for those without a criminal record. The Cuban community, which has historically sought refuge in the United States due to the regime in Cuba, now faces a climate of fear and uncertainty.
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