Alain Núñez, a Cuban immigrant who arrived in the United States in 2021, has been detained for eight months in a jail in Texas, without the authorities providing a clear explanation regarding his situation, despite having a work permit and social security number.
According to a statement made by his family to Telemundo, Núñez was arrested after voluntarily attending an immigration hearing at a courthouse that is not part of the ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detention system.
During the process, the young man had already completed his “credible fear” hearing, a prerequisite for applying for political asylum, and his case is currently awaiting a resolution.
“We don't understand why he is still detained. My wife is pregnant, and this situation has devastated her. She has had to seek psychological therapy to cope with it,” Núñez explained in communication with family members.
The prolonged detention of Núñez has raised concerns among his relatives and organizations that advocate for the rights of migrants.
According to specialists consulted by the source, uncertainty and prolonged isolation can have serious psychological consequences.
A psychologist who has worked with detained migrants noted that “these individuals experience constant stress as they do not know how long they will be incarcerated or what will happen to their future. In cases like this, the risk of depression or emotional crises is very high.”
Núñez's case adds to dozens of reports of Cubans and Latin Americans who remain detained in local prisons or facilities contracted by the federal government while awaiting a response to their asylum applications, despite not posing a danger or having criminal records.
Human rights organizations have reiterated their call to the U.S. government to review detention conditions and ensure more transparent and expedited procedures for those with active work permits or asylum requests.
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