Cuban with I-220A seeks help to recover documents lost on the street in Hialeah


A Cuban identified as Lenier Hernández, holder of a migration document I-220A, lost his wallet in Hialeah and is asking the community for help in recovering his driver's license and work permit.

The call was disseminated by the journalist from Univision, Javier Díaz, through his social media.

Lenier does not claim the money or any other valuable items that the wallet may contain.

His only concerns are his driver's license and his work permit, both of which are still valid.

"A man does not need to recover anything of value, just his documents which are logically indispensable in this time", wrote Javier Díaz in his post.

Lenier Hernández believes he may have lost his wallet in the emergency room area of the Larkin Community Hospital Palm Springs Campus, located in Hialeah, whose emergency room operates 24 hours a day.

Whoever finds it can contact Lenier at the number 786-916-0239.

The solidarity of the community

The publication sparked a widespread wave of support among readers, who shared the call to action and offered practical suggestions to help Lenier.

"May God intervene and the one who found it be humane and return it, because those documents are very difficult to recover," wrote a user.

Another user directly requested: “Please, if someone has found it, out of humanity, call the owner.”

Some went further with concrete advice.

"Go to the hospital, maybe someone took her there," suggested one user; while another pointed out, "Perhaps a nearby camera can help."

Lenier himself took the floor in the comments to thank for the support received and to express his confidence that his documents will surface.

“Thank you all for your support. And I hope and trust in God that it will be so. May whoever finds them be able to return them to me,” he wrote.

Why are these documents so difficult to replace?

For Cubans with an I-220A, maintaining a valid work permit - known as EAD - and a Florida driver's license represents a complex and costly process.

The I-220A is an order of supervised release issued by ICE that allows an individual to remain outside of custody while their immigration process remains open, but it does not equate to a parole nor does it grant immigration status on its own.

The EAD is processed through Form I-765 submitted to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and must be renewed before its expiration.

As of October 30, 2025, most categories will no longer receive automatic extensions, which increases the risk of being without work authorization during the replacement process.

The Florida driver's license for individuals without permanent residency is typically valid for only one year.

Losing these physical documents can leave a person unable to work legally or drive for weeks or months while navigating a slow and demanding bureaucracy.

It is estimated that half a million Cubans in the U.S. find themselves in this migratory situation.

In similar cases, renewing the driving license with I-220A has required submitting the official USCIS receipt for the I-765, the previous EAD, and the previous license, among other documents.

This is not the first time that the Cuban community in South Florida has mobilized in response to similar situations.

In February of this year, another Cuban found a residency card on the street and requested help to return it to its owner, in a gesture that also elicited a supportive response from the community.

Related videos:

Filed under:

CiberCuba Editorial Team

A team of journalists committed to reporting on Cuban current affairs and topics of global interest. At CiberCuba, we work to deliver truthful news and critical analysis.