The immigration attorney Liudmila Marcelo delivered a message of hope to Cubans living in the United States regarding the I-220A form and the fear of being detained. “This will all pass. Let’s trust that it will pass and that things will turn around and improve.”
Marcelo made these statements during an interview with Tania Costa on CiberCuba's immigration program, amidst growing uncertainty following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision that allowed, at least temporarily, the resumption of deportations to third countries while it examines their legality.
The lawyer acknowledged that the fear among I-220A holders is understandable and real. She explained that there have been documented cases of people being arrested while going to work, buying medicine, or doing their weekly shopping. However, she stressed that panic should not paralyze anyone.
"I don't want to suggest that you go out and immediately have someone waiting for you. I don’t want to instill that fear because I have never liked to instill that fear," she clarified, but added: "I also don't like to tell people to be afraid for no reason, because everyone understands their own fears, and I am not one to judge the fears of others."
His call was to maintain the routine and not let anguish consume us. "We have to work, we have to pay the bills, we have to take care of things, we have to keep surviving." And he warned about the paralyzing effect of fear. "If they get into our heads and eat our brains with fear, then we become petrified and do nothing."
Marcelo also offered a perspective that seeks to anchor hope in what is essential. "The worst thing in this life, what truly has no solution, would be death. So as long as you are alive and still here, fighting for your case, there is hope."
Regarding legal representation, the attorney was straightforward: no one should appear without a lawyer, at least for their final hearing before the immigration court. "I do not advise anyone right now to go without a lawyer, at least for their last court appearance. Why? Because that ensures you can file a well-prepared appeal if the case is lost," she explained.
Marcelo also pointed out an observable trend in the courts of Miami. Judges, he said, are postponing hearings for those who have legal representation and are only attending to those who appear alone.
"Even in the first instance, you can already see the differences: those who have lawyers are having their cases suspended and are avoiding that difficult moment. They are only attending to those who do not have lawyers," she warned.
For those who cannot afford a lawyer from the beginning of the process, the recommendation is to hire one at least six months before the final hearing.
The I-220A is a release order on recognizance issued by ICE that allows immigrants to remain free while their deportation process is ongoing, but it does not equate to parole nor does it grant permanent immigration status. According to estimates from El País, around 500,000 Cubans arrived in the United States between 2022 and 2024 with this document, remaining in legal limbo that has intensified during 2026.
A class action lawsuit involving 992 Cubans with I-220A remained active in Miami without a definitive resolution as of October 13, while oral arguments before the Supreme Court regarding the legality of deportations to third countries are scheduled for December 9, 2026.
El caso del I-220A es solo uno de los muchos temas que afectan a los cubanos en Estados Unidos. Mantente informado sobre deportaciones, audiencias y tus derechos en nuestra sección de
Filed under: