Cubans with I-220A and appointments with ICE: what to bring, what to expect, and how to prepare your family

If you have a case I-220A and your appointment with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has arrived, it's normal to feel scared. In recent months, some Cubans have left those appointments with a new date and their paperwork in hand, while others have been detained. No one can guarantee how yours will turn out.

What is clear is that not showing up is almost always worse. Missing the appointment violates the terms of your release and can result in an arrest. Missing a court hearing can lead to a deportation order being issued in your absence. The best defense is to go prepared.

In this guide, we explain to you, based on the official information available as of October 26, what the I-220A requires, what documents to bring, how to organize your family before the appointment, and what to do if you are detained.

What does the I-220A require from you?

The I-220A is an Order of Release on Recognizance. The official form template published by ICE outlines the conditions you agreed to upon your release from custody. Among them:

• Present yourself to any audience or interview when ICE or the immigration court instructs you to do so.
• Report to the officer and at the office listed in your document, either in person or in writing, as instructed.
• Participate in the Alternatives to Detention (ATD) program if your release depends on it, which may include electronic monitoring and a curfew.
• Do not remove or damage the GPS ankle monitor if it has been placed on you: this can lead to arrest and criminal charges.
• Do not move without obtaining written permission from the officer first.
• Help ICE obtain travel documents if necessary and not violate any laws.

The form warns that failing to comply with these conditions "may result in the revocation" of your release and in your arrest and detention. If you want to better understand the difference between this document and parole, read our guide on why the I-220A is not a parole.

Appointment with ICE and court hearing: they are not the same

It's easy to confuse these two commitments, but each has its own consequences:

• The appointment with ICE (check-in): es un control con la agencia que te liberó. En su dating site, ICE indica que, en los casos de liberación bajo palabra, no cumplir las condiciones puede llevar a una nueva decisión sobre tu custodia. Es decir, a que te vuelvan a detener.
• The audience in the immigration court: la dirige un juez de la EOIR (Oficina Ejecutiva de Revisión de Casos de Inmigración), que depende del Departamento de Justicia. Según el reglamento federal 8 CFR 1003.26, si no te presentas, el juez podrá order your deportation in absentia cuando el gobierno pruebe que eres deportable y que te notificó la fecha. La notificación vale si se envió a la última dirección que diste.

That's why you need to keep an eye on both things. With your A number (the foreigner number that appears on your documents), you can check if you have scheduled hearings in the EOIR case information system. Do this before each appointment with ICE: sometimes the court already has an open case that you weren't aware of.

What documents to bring to the appointment

ICE publishes a list of what to bring to in-person appointments at their offices. Tailored to your situation, it includes:

• Your I-220A and any letter or notification with the appointment date.
• Proof of your current address: rental contract, invoices, or a letter from your host.
• All your identification, both U.S. and foreign: Cuban passport, birth certificate, and, if applicable, marriage certificate.
• Your immigration documents: USCIS receipts (for example, for asylum or work permits), court notifications, and the Notice to Appear if you have it.
• Records of any arrest or conviction, along with the final outcome, and evidence of rehabilitation if available.
• Tests for serious illness, pregnancy, or disability, if applicable.
• Records of studies or training and evidence of properties or other significant assets in the U.S.
• The G-28 form signed, if you have an attorney.

Bring the originals and a copy, and keep another complete copy of everything at home. Leave a trusted family member a duplicate folder, just in case it is needed.

Prepare a family plan before you go

The most important preparation is done days before the appointment, not while waiting in line at the office

1. Speak with a lawyer or an accredited representative. Según la ICE page for lawyers, para que tu abogado pueda pedir información de tu caso debe tener presentado el formulario G-28 en la oficina de ICE que lleva tu expediente.
2. Memorize two phone numbers: your lawyer's and a family member's with legal status. If you are stopped, you may not have access to your cell phone.
3. Give your family your ID number and your date and country of birth. These are the details they will need to find you.
4. Leave the care of your children organized: who picks them up from school and who can make decisions for them.
5. Be accompanied. Have a trusted person wait outside the office and know who to call if you don't come out.
6. If you are taking medications, bring the prescription or a medical report that states so.

During the appointment: your basic rights

Stay calm and be punctual. Answer truthfully, but you don’t have to say more than necessary: you can state that you prefer to consult with your lawyer before answering questions about your case.

Read carefully any document you are given. Do not sign anything you do not understand, especially documents in English that discuss voluntary departure or acceptance of your deportation: they can have very serious consequences for your future. Ask for it to be explained to you in Spanish and have your lawyer review it.

If ICE detains you and initiates a deportation procedure, the federal regulation 8 CFR 287.3 establishes certain guarantees, subject to the conditions and exceptions provided in the regulation. When these provisions are applicable, the agents must inform you of the reasons for your arrest, your right to have legal representation of your choice — including the possibility of accessing free services — and that your statements may be used against you. These guarantees do not apply uniformly to all immigration detention situations.

If you are detained at the appointment

This is what ICE says happens and what your family can do:

• Calls: según el National Manual for ICE Detainees, al llegar al centro de detención te darán acceso a un teléfono. En tu unidad debe haber una lista de proveedores de servicios legales gratuitos, que se actualiza cada trimestre.
• Your belongings: they will take your clothes, money, and personal items to store them, and they will give you a detailed receipt. Keep it. Your identity and immigration documents will be added to your file.
• How your family will find you: el online detainee locator funciona las 24 horas y está en español. Hace falta el nombre completo y el número A, o la fecha de nacimiento, además del país de nacimiento. Si no apareces, tu familia debe contactar a la oficina local de ICE. Los menores de 18 años no aparecen en el sistema.
• Phone Information: the ICE detention information line is 1-888-351-4024, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
• Bond: según cómo entraste y tus antecedentes, puede que puedas pedirla. Te lo explicamos en nuestra guía sobre how to request immigration bail and who can pay for it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I surely going to be arrested if I go to the appointment? No. The experiences vary greatly: a Cuban family with I-220A in Orlando left their appointment with a cutoff date set for 2028, while other appointments have ended in arrests. That's why it's important to be prepared.

Can I move before the appointment? The I-220A requires written permission from the officer before changing residence. If you also have a case in court, you must notify of the change using the EOIR-33 form within five business days, according to the EOIR page on address changes. This can be done online.

What should I do if I cannot attend due to an emergency? Contact the ICE office listed in your document before the date, keep proof of that communication, and inform your lawyer. Do not miss the appointment without providing an explanation.

What if I have a lawyer? Inform them in advance of your appointment date and bring the signed G-28 form, as required by ICE. This will allow them to request information about your case if you are detained.

Aviso legal: este artículo ofrece información general con fines exclusivamente informativos y no constituye asesoría legal. Las leyes y políticas migratorias de EE.UU. cambian con frecuencia. Para evaluar tu caso concreto, licenciado o un representante acreditado por el Departamento de Justicia.