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A Cuban with a criminal record for drug possession with intent to distribute was arrested this Tuesday in Texas by agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) included Gilberto Ruiz Broche, 61 years old, among the illegal immigrants classified as "the worst of the worst", who have been arrested in recent hours across the country, including those convicted of sexual assault, aggravated assault, and drug trafficking.
Ruiz Broche was declared guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in the city of Austin, Texas, the DHS indicated in a statement on its official website.
Ruiz Broche was sentenced to 17 years and six months in prison, after being found guilty of the charges. It is unknown if he had already served his sentence at the time of his arrest.
The DHS statement includes remarks from Secretary Kristi Noem, urging undocumented immigrants to self-deport. “We have a clear message for those who are in our country illegally: LEAVE NOW. If you do not self-deport, we will find you, arrest you, and deport you. Download the free CBP Home app today to self-deport.”
ICE has intensified its offensive to remove illegal migrants with a criminal history from communities in the United States. The agency has reiterated as a priority the capture and deportation of foreign nationals deemed a threat to the country's public safety.
In multiple operations across the United States, numerous Cubans who have served sentences or have pending charges for serious crimes have been arrested and are facing deportation proceedings.
However, the expulsion of Cuban nationals tends to be a complex and lengthy procedure, due to the Havana government's refusal to accept individuals with criminal records or those who have been outside the island since before the migration agreements of 2017.
Cubans with extensive criminal records and final deportation orders have been sent to third countries, even when they have no personal ties to these places and face the risk of torture or death, as reported by human rights organizations and legal experts.
At least four Cubans have been deported to countries in Africa, such as South Sudan, the Kingdom of Eswatini, and Rwanda, while others have been transferred to Mexico.
DHS records indicate that more than 42,000 Cubans have final deportation orders, but the reluctance of the Havana regime to accept them back has complicated the expulsion processes.
Meanwhile, deportation flights from the U.S. to Cuba continue on a monthly basis, in accordance with the existing migration agreements between the governments of both countries.
The most recent air operation for the return of migrants took place on November 6, when 232 Cubans were returned to the island. This brings the total number of individuals deported by the Trump administration in 2025 to 1,231, a figure that far exceeds the total registered (978) by the administration of President Joe Biden since the resumption of ICE deportation flights in April 2023.
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