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A visit to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office in Hialeah, in Miami-Dade County, ended abruptly for a Cuban citizen who was there with the intention of progressing in his naturalization process.
What was supposed to be another step toward U.S. citizenship quickly turned into a police arrest on pending drug-related charges in the state of Colorado.
According to a post shared by USCIS on their Facebook page on January 12, the individual was detained during a regular public service day.
The Hialeah office, one of the busiest for citizenship applicants in South Florida, was the scene of this and another arrest following routine background checks that are part of the immigration process.
"It was a busy day at our office in Hialeah, Florida. We handed over to local police a foreigner from Haiti with an arrest warrant for driving with a suspended license and a Cuban citizen wanted in Colorado on drug-related charges", wrote USCIS in their official statement. Both individuals had come to the USCIS headquarters to advance or complete their naturalization process.
However, the data crossover with judicial databases immediately triggered cooperation protocols between the immigration agency and local authorities, culminating in their handover to the police.
"These foreigners were trying to finalize their naturalization documents to become citizens of the United States," USCIS clarified, highlighting that even in the final stages of the immigration process, applicants can face legal consequences due to unresolved issues.
The risk of going to USCIS with pending legal issues
The case of the Cuban citizen reveals a little-discussed reality within the migrant community: USCIS offices are not immune to criminal law.
Although many migrants believe that their legal status —such as permanent residency— protects them, the truth is that any active arrest warrant can be executed during a migration appointment.
This type of situation occurs relatively frequently. Final interviews for citizenship usually include thorough background checks for criminal and civil records, both at the local and national levels.
USCIS has access to interconnected databases that allow for the detection of active judicial alerts, pending appearances, and prior convictions anywhere in the country.
Colorado: The Root of the Case of the Detained Cuban
Although the identity of the Cuban citizen has not been disclosed, USCIS reported that there was an arrest warrant issued against him by authorities in Colorado.
The drug-related charges prompted his immediate arrest after appearing before immigration officials in Hialeah.
These types of orders may have originated years ago and in a state different from that of the applicant's residence.
However, the naturalization process requires that there be no active judicial or criminal impediment, making this phase the most sensitive for those with unresolved records.
One of the most common misconceptions among migrants, especially in communities like the Cuban one, is the belief that having permanent residency or another regular immigration status provides immunity from the law.
This misconception can have serious consequences, such as the arrest of the Cuban citizen during their naturalization appointment.
USCIS has reiterated that immigration status and judicial status are separate areas, but they are closely linked when it comes to accessing citizenship.
The arrest not only interrupts the immigration process but can also lead to a permanent denial of naturalization and even trigger deportation proceedings in severe cases.
A clear message for the migrant community
The case that occurred in Hialeah has become an example of the level of scrutiny faced by citizenship applicants in the United States.
Immigration authorities insist that any dealings with USCIS must be conducted with complete transparency and certainty of not having any pending legal issues.
Cooperation between agencies, such as USCIS and law enforcement, is part of the usual protocol, especially when active alerts are detected. In this context, attending an immigration appointment without having previously resolved any criminal issues can lead to an unexpected outcome and, as in this case, to jail.
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