This past Wednesday, a group of Cuban immigrants with I-220A forms gathered outside the office of attorney Eduardo Soto to show support for Laura de la Caridad González Sánchez, a 26-year-old woman who was detained during a meeting with ICE in Miramar, Broward County, earlier this week.
“Why are innocent people who are merely fleeing a murderous communist dictatorship being detained?” asked Lianeth Pérez in a statement to Univision.
Sandra Vázquez urged, “As a legal movement in Florida, we need acknowledgment that if we haven't committed a crime, have structured our lives, and are awaiting asylum decisions, we shouldn’t have to live in fear.”
Danier Vega emphasized, “She has no criminal record, no police tickets, nothing... Since arriving here two years ago, just like my girlfriend and I, we've been working, paying taxes, and studying.” He recalled Trump's comments from September 2024, prior to his presidency, where he stated that immigrants who study, graduate, and follow the rules deserve a green card.
Vega lamented, “There are thousands of criminals on the streets causing chaos, yet they remain free.”
Among those interviewed was a cousin of Laura de la Caridad Sánchez, who had accompanied her to the ICE meeting. “She told me she couldn’t leave, that they were going to detain her. When I asked why, she said the laws had changed, and they didn’t know why she’d be held,” the cousin recounted tearfully.
All interviewees expressed a deep fear of deportation. Eduardo Soto, the attorney who greeted the protesters, stated that the detained woman has every right to be released. “Our client deserves to walk free. This measure is entirely unnecessary,” he asserted; although he acknowledged that in the current immigration climate, "this has happened and will continue to happen."
When asked about the next steps, Soto indicated, “We must secure her release, prove this is unjust, and unnecessary.” Celia Sánchez, Laura’s mother, attended the protest, reiterating that her daughter has no criminal history, studies nursing, and works. Univision reported that ICE is thoroughly reviewing Laura’s case file.
Meanwhile, Laura’s mother has been in contact with Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar.
The Unexpected Detention
Before the protest, Celia Sánchez shared her distress in previous statements to Univision, expressing her devastation over her daughter’s detention. “I’m shattered, I’m destroyed; she’s my only child,” she expressed. She explained that immigration officials failed to provide a clear reason for the arrest. “There’s no explanation; they told her it was a random selection,” Sánchez said.
Laura, who arrived in the U.S. in September 2022, received an I-220A form and has her initial asylum hearing set for December this year. According to her attorney, this should allow her to remain free until her case is assessed.
Potential Shifts in Immigration Policy
However, Eduardo Soto suggested that Laura’s detention might be linked to new immigration measures by President Donald Trump's administration, which aims to tighten the "catch and release" policy. “President Trump declared that the practice of detaining and releasing individuals would end, focusing on those who arrived in the last two or three years to determine if they should remain free. Clearly, these are the actions being taken,” the attorney explained.
According to Soto, this policy could impact an estimated one million individuals who have entered the U.S. under similar circumstances since 2022, signifying a significant shift in how immigrant cases are processed in the nation.
Key Questions About Laura's Detention and Policy Changes
Why was Laura de la Caridad González detained by ICE?
Laura was detained during a meeting with ICE despite having no criminal record, and the reason provided was linked to changing immigration laws, possibly as part of new policy measures.
What is the I-220A form?
The I-220A form is a document given to some immigrants, indicating their release under specific conditions while they await further immigration proceedings.
How could President Trump's immigration policies affect recent arrivals?
Trump's administration has proposed ending "catch and release" and plans to scrutinize immigrants who arrived recently to determine if they should remain free, potentially affecting around a million people.