A Cuban migrant with form I-220A shared on social media his experience after appearing this Thursday before the Immigration Court in Orlando, Florida, where —as he recounted— his hearing was rescheduled to the end of 2026.
“I just left the Orlando Court. I wanted to make this video to provide some information. I know there are many videos before going to my court, but there’s always something that updates you, and it’s good to know,” the young man said in his testimony.
The Cuban explained that he attended accompanied by a lawyer and that, after appearing before the judge, a new date was set for the end of 2026. He stated that another Cuban migrant who appeared before him, also with legal representation, was similarly given a date for the end of 2026.
In his account, the migrant acknowledged that one of his main concerns was the possibility of being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when attending court. However, he stated that the atmosphere was “super calm” and that he did not observe any operations or arrests within the courthouse.
"There was nobody making ICE arrests, nothing unusual was happening. That was what worried me the most, that they would literally keep me detained, but nothing, everything else was great," he expressed.
The young man also noted that he did not know what happened to the individuals who attended without a lawyer, as he was unable to learn the outcome of their cases.
The I-220A form is a document of release on parole or supervision that is given to certain migrants upon their entry into the United States. In recent years, thousands of Cubans have received this immigration status, awaiting proceedings in Immigration Court to determine their legal residency in the country.
The accumulation of cases in the federal immigration system has led to many hearings being scheduled years in advance, leaving numerous applicants in prolonged legal uncertainty.
The testimony of the Cuban adds to other recent accounts from migrants seeking to share practical information about their appearances, amid an increasingly strict migration environment and greater oversight from federal authorities.
For the moment, the young man will have to wait until the end of 2026 to continue his process before an immigration judge, while remaining free under the conditions set forth in his I-220A document.
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