The Cuban broadcaster and presenter Frank Abel Gómez Bernal spoke from the Bluebonnet Detention Center in Anson, Texas, where he is held in custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with a possible deportation to Cuba on the horizon.
In the message addressed directly to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Frank Abel spoke on behalf of himself and four other Cubans whose names he mentioned.
The speaker requested clemency for the Cubans detained with open deportation proceedings, especially for the beneficiaries of the I-220A document, and denounced the sanitary and food conditions of the center where they are held.
The direct call to Marco Rubio
From the very first second of the video, Frank Abel appealed to the Cuban roots of the Secretary of State.
“Don't you remember your parents' roots? Do you remember why you are in that government position at this moment?”, he questioned after introducing himself and mentioning the names of those who support him in the complaint.
“Did your parents not have the opportunity to legalize themselves in the United States when they came from Cuba and embraced this great nation? Why are we being sent back to Cuba? We are at risk of being imprisoned; we are also at risk of being mistreated by state security,” he added.
The conditions of the detention center
Frank Abel dedicated part of the video to denouncing the precarious conditions of the facility where he is incarcerated.
“Here we are at Blue Bunny Detention Center, a place where we do not receive the necessary medical attention, and we have seen cases of people with chronic illnesses being mistreated. We are also experiencing an unbalanced diet and a food service that leaves much to be desired, which will soon not only send us to health institutions but also to suffer from diseases,” he reported.
Another key point of the message is that immigration judges do not apply the legislation that should protect Cubans in their situation:
"Without any mercy, the immigration judges and, of course, the prosecution do not take our Cuban Adjustment Act into account, and even less do they show any consideration for the dictatorship that has dominated Cuba for over 60 years and that you want to overthrow."
"We are on land of freedom. Help."
The video concluded with an urgent call that encapsulates the communicator's distress:
“Please, this call is for you, Marco Rubio. Help us, do not let them continue deporting Cubans who have only come to this country to work, because we don’t even have a criminal record,” she pleaded.
"From Anson, Texas, it's Frank Abel, together with all the Cubans, to say, we are in the land of freedom. Help," he concluded.
The I-220A is a supervision release order that is not equivalent to parole, does not grant permanent residency, and does not allow one to apply for the Cuban Adjustment Act.
It is estimated that between 400,000 and 500,000 Cubans are in that legal limbo in the United States.
A case that has dragged on for months of uncertainty
Frank Abel arrived in the United States in January 2022 after leaving an artistic tour, entering through the southern border with Mexico, where he was a prominent figure in the Cuban official radio and television with programs like "El Exitazo" on Radio Taíno.
In June 2025, he received a deportation notice because his application for political asylum in Tampa was not successful.
The arrest in Oklahoma County in December 2025 -following a traffic violation that resulted in four charges, including resisting arrest- triggered the immigration process against him.
Finally, on December 20, he was handed over to ICE by the Oklahoma police.
The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals is reviewing the legal status of the I-220A, which could change the situation for hundreds of thousands of people.
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