A Cuban resident in Indiana with I-220A immigration status expressed his outrage on TikTok upon receiving a document that, according to him, requires him to sign to accept a mass deportation, and he made it clear that he has no intention of doing so.
The man, identified as C. Gongora in a video posted on June 17, explained that he has a cut-off date at the immigration court scheduled for July 2026, which makes it even more puzzling for him to have received that document.
"What an ironic life, for a person like me with an I-220A, having a cut-off date for next month which is my last hearing, they send this document here in Indiana, a paper that needs to be signed as an agreement for mass deportation," he said in the video.
His reaction was emphatic: "I don't know if they think I'm some kind of fool. They must think I'm going to sign this crap. They're crazy, they really are crazy."
The post resonated with thousands of Cubans in similar situations. It is estimated that between 400,000 and 500,000 Cubans are in a migratory limbo with that status in the United States, most of whom arrived during the wave of 2022-2023.
The I-220A is a supervision release order issued by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that allows migrants to remain outside of custody while their case remains open before the court. It is not equivalent to parole or a formal admission, which prevents automatic access to the benefits of the Cuban Adjustment Act.
Immigration experts warn that signing any ICE document without legal advice can close off future legal options and trigger inadmissibility penalties ranging from three to ten years for reentering the country.
The lawyer Willy Allen was categorical on the matter: never accept voluntary departure if you are not detained, and only consider that option when the destination country guarantees the reception of the migrant.
The context is one of increasing pressure. The detention of Cubans by ICE rose by 463% between late 2024 and early 2026, and this Wednesday it was reported that the agency set its own record in June with 39,000 immigrants detained in a single month.
In addition, immigration courts are massively accelerating hearings, which exposes individuals with an I-220A to swift decisions without sufficient time to prepare properly.
Allen clarified in April 2026 that some Cubans with I-220A have indeed been deported, but in numbers of "hundreds, not thousands," and that the deportations are neither massive nor indiscriminate. The distinction with I-220B is key: the latter does imply a final order of deportation and poses an immediate risk of expulsion, while the I-220A keeps the case open.
Some judges have granted residency to Cubans with I-220A in 2026, although the federal government has appealed those decisions. Attorney Allen is betting on October or November 2026 as a potential window for legislative or judicial changes for this group.
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