María Elvira Salazar Urges Republicans: "We Have Four Years to Assist Cuban I-220A Holders"

Republican Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar has made a compelling call for patience and trust in addressing the immigration status of the 550,000 Cubans who have entered the United States under the I-220A designation (order of release on recognizance). "We have four years to prove that Republicans can help the I-220A holders," she asserted passionately at the end of a video recorded in her office, where she detailed the unsuccessful efforts she made during the Biden Administration.

In a brief three-minute recording, Salazar tackles critiques questioning her actions, or lack thereof, in the previous term regarding the I-220A. "Here's a summary of what I accomplished in the last two years and who the real culprits are," she remarked, pointing fingers at the Democrats.

Salazar recounts that her initial advocacy for the I-220A began in 2023 when she met with Alejandro Mayorkas, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in Miami. At that time, she claims, he was unaware of what I-220A entailed and had to consult with his aides. Following this encounter, Salazar mentions having had three additional meetings in her congressional office in Washington, as well as numerous phone conversations.

"Here are examples of the countless texts," Salazar claimed, referring to the messages she exchanged with Mayorkas, urging him to address the I-220A issue, while displaying screenshots of those exchanges. Essentially, she requested that the Secretary facilitate the transition of these 550,000 Cubans to "Parole in Place" or "Parole in Country," believing the previous administration had the authority to allow those already in the U.S. to take advantage of the Cuban Adjustment Act.

Salazar defends her efforts, stating that beyond her direct communications with the Secretary, her team in Washington, D.C., sent fifty emails to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), directed at Mayorkas's staff, reminding them of their ability to grant "Parole in Place" to Cuban I-220A holders, enabling them to utilize the Cuban Adjustment Act.

As months passed, it wasn't until the summer of 2024 that Salazar's office identified a significant "irregularity" where, within families, fathers were granted parole while mothers received I-220A. "How is that possible? Mayorkas assured me it was impossible, and I promised to prove it was happening," Salazar recalls.

To provide evidence to the Secretary, she encouraged her followers to send their cases and received "over 70,000 emails at the Miami office." This data, she claims, was sent to DHS. "We sent thousands of documented cases to Mayorkas's team, specifically highlighting the issue of family separation, countering the Democrats' claim that they do not separate families," she emphasized.

"In October and November 2024, before the elections, we were ignored, and I again urged Mayorkas to grant 'Parole in Place' to the Cubans. The Democrats and the Biden Administration could have easily solved this issue, as they were the ones who began issuing I-220A to Cubans, which I still don't fully understand. Cubans are the only group in this country with the option to naturalize because of the Cuban Adjustment Act. They can utilize it to become American citizens. The Democrats had the opportunity in their hands. We will see what we can accomplish over the next four years under President Trump. We have four more years to prove that Republicans can assist those with I-220A," she concluded, not without a sharp retort: "If you have any other comments, send them to me, and if you could have done something more, then tell me so I can do it."

Her pointed remark appears directed at individuals like Florida immigration lawyer Willie Allen, who criticized Salazar last week, arguing that her proposed legislation to grant legal status to I-220A holders is "an insult" since the Cuban Adjustment Act already covers this, and in his view, the existing law simply needs to be applied to the I-220A.

Following this interview with CiberCuba, many took the opportunity to criticize the congresswoman, who now reminds everyone that the legislative session spans four years and that Trump has only been in office for a month.