The relatives of Juan Manuel Fernández Ramos, a Cuban national detained by ICE and facing deportation, have made a desperate plea to prevent his return to Cuba. This comes as the Trump administration resumes deportations of Cuban immigrants this week.
Fernández was apprehended in Tampa and has been held at the Krome Detention Center under the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) jurisdiction in southern Miami-Dade for over 20 days, according to a Facebook post by his wife, Jessica Acosta Sánchez. Acosta is seeking assistance to cover legal representation fees that could exceed $15,000, aiming to stop her husband's repatriation, who has been detained at Krome for 25 days as of this Sunday.
"I'm making this appeal because we're out of options," Acosta wrote in a Thursday post, attaching a potential contract with a law firm to represent Fernández. "Juan Manuel Fernández has been in KROME detention for 22 days awaiting deportation to Cuba. We've contacted numerous attorneys to halt his deportation, and none charge less than $15,000, a sum that's hard to gather overnight."
Acosta implored friends, family, and anyone who can contribute to quickly hire an attorney to start the deportation-stopping process, emphasizing, "Every minute matters."
She explained to CiberCuba that her husband was "improperly processed upon entering the U.S.," a country he reached by sea in 2022. Despite expressing fear of returning to Cuba, Fernández was not given a credible fear interview by asylum officers.
Those wishing to assist the family with Fernández's legal fees can do so via a transfer to the Zelle account at +1 786 849 0763.
The Cuban community in the U.S. has increasingly worried since President Donald Trump's return to the White House on January 20th, as his immigration strategy focuses on widespread arrests and deportations of undocumented foreigners to curb illegal immigration.
Concerns peaked on February 27th when the Trump administration executed its first deportation flight, sending 104 individuals back to Cuba: 84 men, 19 women, and a minor. The ICE-chartered flight reached Havana's José Martí International Airport on Thursday, after a January hiatus in these operations, which had resumed in April 2023 under the previous Democratic administration of Joe Biden. The last deportation flight departed Florida on December 19th, carrying 42 Cuban immigrants and marking the 21st such flight under the former administration.
ICE's detention and deportation of Cubans come amid the U.S. government's tightened immigration policies. Even Cuban immigrants with the I-220A form, previously thought exempt from Trump's deportations, have expressed significant concern after learning that some under this status have been detained and face deportation processes.
Since Trump's second term began, benefits like humanitarian parole, CBP One application appointments, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for certain immigrant groups have been rescinded.
Understanding ICE Deportation and Cuban Immigrants in the U.S.
What is the Krome Detention Center?
The Krome Detention Center is a facility in southern Miami-Dade County, Florida, operated by ICE to detain non-citizens who are awaiting deportation or resolution of their immigration cases.
Why are Cuban immigrants particularly concerned about deportations?
Cuban immigrants are concerned due to the U.S. government's recent tightening of immigration policies, which have led to increased arrests and deportations. Many fear returning to Cuba due to potential political persecution or economic hardship.
How can people assist the Fernández family?
Individuals can help the Fernández family by contributing to their legal defense fund through a Zelle transfer to the account at +1 786 849 0763.