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A 21-year-old Cuban man, identified as R. V., managed to convince an immigration judge that his life would be in danger if he returned to Cuba. Despite winning his case and receiving protection against deportation, he remains confined in a detention center run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in California.
His story was brought to light by , a digital site that covers global politics, immigration issues, and human rights based on official documents and firsthand testimonies.
R. V. fled Cuba in 2024 after participating in protests against the government. He reported that he was imprisoned, monitored, and pursued by the authorities. During his journey through Mexico, he was kidnapped, and upon reaching the U.S. border, he sought protection.
A judge granted him withholding of removal, a legal provision that prevents his deportation to the island due to the risks he faces. With that ruling, he hoped to reunite with his family in Florida, but he remains detained without ICE providing an explanation as to why.
The young man claims that immigration agents have warned him that if they cannot send him back to Cuba, they will find another country that will accept him. He mentioned that they have talked to him about Panama or Costa Rica.
"The wait is so tough. It's like they don't want to accept that I won," she told the media.
Attorneys cited by Los Ángeles Times believe that this case reflects a significant change under the administration of Donald Trump. They explain that ICE no longer automatically releases individuals who gain protection against deportation. The internal policy prioritizes keeping them detained while the government appeals the rulings or tries to send them to third countries, even if they have no connection to those nations.
Advocacy organizations for migrants warn that this practice punishes even those who have already demonstrated they would be persecuted or tortured if they return to their country. Attorney Jennifer Norris pointed out that those who win their cases end up being treated like criminals and trapped in a limbo that can last for months or even years. She added that the protections granted by a judge become meaningless when ICE insists on seeking alternative routes to deport migrants.
The report mentions other similar cases, including that of Ngựa, a young Vietnamese man who received protection due to the risk of torture but remains detained while ICE attempts to transfer him to another country.
The case of a woman from Sierra Leone who was deported to Ghana and later sent back to her country of origin despite a judge's prohibition is also noteworthy.
Another example is that of F. B., a Colombian who remained in detention for more than eight months while the authorities claimed that her release was imminent. A federal judge eventually ordered her release, concluding that the prolonged detention was unjustified.
For those behind bars, uncertainty is a daily burden. Some detainees explained that an officer walks through the dormitories every morning asking who wants to voluntarily deport themselves. The psychological pressure is constant, and many fear spending years in this state.
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