Detainment of 18 Cuban Nationals with I-220A Forms in South Florida Raises Alarm

In recent days, at least 18 Cuban nationals holding I-220A forms have been detained in South Florida after attending scheduled appointments with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This development has sparked concern within the Cuban community, as reported by immigration attorneys. The original report, published by the Miami Herald, highlights the growing unease.

These detained individuals are part of a group of migrants who were initially released under supervision after entering the United States. However, they have not yet secured a defined immigration status. Some of these individuals have been residing in the country for over a year, adhering to ICE regulations by attending regular immigration check-ins.

Immigration attorneys, interviewed by the Miami Herald, have suggested that these detentions reflect a hardening of immigration policies under the Trump administration. Historically, this group has received differential treatment within the U.S. immigration system. Most of those detained are reportedly women who attended their verification appointments at the Miramar ICE office.

One alarming case is that of Beatriz Monteagudo, a 25-year-old Cuban woman detained on March 10 and subsequently transferred to a detention center in San Diego. Her case has raised concerns among immigrants and their families. According to her friend Johan Ariel, Monteagudo participated in the July 11, 2021 protests in Cuba and fears imprisonment if deported.

Rebeca Sánchez-Roig, an attorney quoted by the Miami Herald, described the detention as "unusual" but clarified that it is not illegal. Another troubling case involves Laura de la Caridad Sánchez, a 27-year-old Cuban detained during her immigration appointment in Miramar. Her attorney, Eduardo Soto, noted that immigration authorities did not provide clear explanations for her detention other than orders from Washington. Soto expressed readiness to take legal action if his client is not released, describing the detentions as a tactic to instill fear among the migrant community.

So far, the Department of Homeland Security has not issued an official statement regarding the arrests, nor has it responded to inquiries from the Miami Herald about whether Cubans with I-220A forms are now a detention priority. Meanwhile, lawmakers like Cuban-American Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar have expressed concern over the situation, urging ICE not to detain migrants with this status until their cases are processed.

The I-220A form certifies the release of an individual from immigration custody under specific conditions but does not confer legal status. In recent years, thousands of Cubans have received this document after crossing the Mexican border, with many seeking asylum or attempting other avenues to regularize their stay in the U.S. However, federal judges have ruled that the I-220A cannot be used to apply for permanent residency under the Cuban Adjustment Act.

The situation for Cubans with this immigration status is troubling. A recent report indicates that nearly 550,000 Cubans in the United States could face deportation risks due to a lack of clear regularization pathways and the new measures under President Donald Trump, including the indefinite suspension of humanitarian parole programs. The uncertainty surrounding their legal future and ICE's stricter enforcement have caused alarm among immigrants and their families, who fear unexpected detentions similar to the recent raids in South Florida.