The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the arrest of two Cuban citizens with extensive criminal records.
The detention of these individuals occurred as part of the tightening of immigration policy implemented by the administration of President Donald Trump since January 2025.
In statements shared on social media, the federal agency reported the capture of Julio César Díaz-Muro and César Drago-Méndez, both considered threats to public safety and with final deportation orders issued in 2021.
Murder, armed robbery, and drug trafficking
Julio César Díaz-Muro is Cuban and has a history of homicide, intentional homicide, armed robbery, and cocaine trafficking.
ICE noted that his arrest was carried out by the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) office in Miami, emphasizing that he was taken off the streets of Florida to protect the community.
"It's not someone you would want to call your neighbor," the agency stated in its message, emphasizing the danger posed by the detainee.
The other Cuban faces homicide charges in Florida
César Drago-Méndez was described as a criminal illegal immigrant from Cuba, with two counts of homicide.
His criminal record also includes aggravated assault with a weapon, possession and receipt of stolen property, multiple drug-related offenses, and several serious convictions for firearms.
Drago-Méndez remains in ICE custody in Miami, awaiting the final procedures for his deportation, according to the agency.
Context of raids and mass deportations
Both arrests occurred during a peak intensification of the illegal immigration policy driven by the Trump administration. ICE and other federal agencies under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in coordination with state and local authorities, have increased raids and detentions of undocumented individuals, particularly those with criminal convictions or pending charges.
DHS has reiterated that around 70% of those arrested are convicted criminals or are facing criminal charges. However, human rights organizations and community leaders have reported that among the detainees, there are also workers without criminal records, who have been residing in the country for years, paying taxes, and supporting their families.
Official data indicates that nearly three million illegal immigrants left the United States in 2025. Of these, about 2.2 million did so through "self-deportation," and more than 675,000 were expelled directly by immigration authorities.
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