Immigration attorney Liudmila Marcelo delivered a direct and heartfelt message to Cubans holding the I-220A document who face the risk of deportation to third countries: stay calm, do not let fear paralyze you, and above all, do not attend your final court hearing without legal representation.
The council arrives at a critical moment, following the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, which temporarily lifted the pause on deportations to third countries while it examines the legality of that policy, allowing the Trump Administration to resume the expedited transfers to destinations such as Liberia, Equatorial Guinea, or the Central African Republic.
Marcelo openly acknowledged that she herself feels the weight of the situation. "Look, it's very difficult to give advice when I also have all these situations swirling in my mind, and there are days when I feel overwhelmed and think about dedicating myself to doing something completely different."
The lawyer validated the fears of those who avoid going outside, but she urged that this fear not turn into paralysis.
"Yes, there is a bit of fear about going out (to the street) because there have been cases of people who, simply by going to work or stepping out for a moment to buy medicine or the weekly groceries, have unfortunately been detained," he admitted.
At the same time, he clarified that he does not want to incite panic. "I don't want to say that you go out and immediately there's someone waiting for you. I don't want to instill that kind of fear because I've never liked to spread that terror, but I also don't like telling people that they're frightened for no reason, because everyone understands their own fear, and I'm not in a position to judge others' fears."
His central message was one of resilience and hope. "All of this will pass. Let us trust that it will pass, and things will turn around and improve."
Marcelo emphasized that those who still have a pending asylum case or an active appeal retain legitimate legal options, and that giving up is not the answer. "The worst thing in this life, the one thing that truly has no solution, is death. So as long as you are alive and still here, fighting for your case, there is hope."
He also warned about the devastating effect of fear when it becomes obsessive. "If it gets into our heads and eats away at our brains with fear, then we become paralyzed and do nothing."
As for the most specific practical recommendation, Marcelo made an exception to his usual practice of not actively promoting legal services.
"I have never been one to say, 'They need lawyers,' because I don't like it. I say that the service of a doctor and a lawyer is not provided because it is in bad taste," he explained.
However, she was emphatic. "I do not advise anyone at this time to go without a lawyer to at least their final court. Why? Because that ensures you can file a well-prepared appeal if that case happens to be lost."
Holders of I-220A face simultaneously several fronts of legal pressure. The so-called motion to pretermit —requests from the Department of Homeland Security to close asylum cases before a full hearing—, the risk of deportation without prior notice to countries with which they have no ties, and long waits in an overloaded judicial system.
A class action lawsuit by 992 Cubans with I-220A in Miami remained active this week, with pending procedural steps before a federal judge who has already determined she has jurisdiction to move forward in the case.
The Supreme Court has scheduled arguments regarding the legality of deportations to third countries for December 2026, which means that uncertainty for thousands of Cubans will continue for at least the next several months.
El caso de los portadores del I-220A es solo uno de los muchos frentes del sistema migratorio estadounidense. Sigue todos los desarrollos en nuestra sección de
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