A young Cuban man named Ariel Rodríguez Gutiérrez has been detained by immigration officials during a meeting to adjust his immigration status, according to his family. Rodríguez Gutiérrez, who received humanitarian parole at the U.S. border, attended an interview on February 25th with immigration authorities, hopeful for a positive outcome after being scammed.
"He was very happy; we thought we were finally going to get residency," shared his fiancée, Lisandra Torres. However, after the meeting, two officers from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested him, claiming he had a pending deportation order.
His family explained to Telemundo 51 that Ariel crossed the border and was granted humanitarian parole. He initially lived in Tampa before moving to Miami, where he began the process to obtain residency. Unfortunately, his application was denied due to an error by a supposed lawyer who failed to notify immigration of his change of address.
Attorney Ralip Hernández, now representing Rodríguez Gutiérrez, stated that the young man "paid for legal services that were never adequately provided. The failure to update the address with immigration meant he missed court notifications," Hernández explained. Not attending the hearing resulted in a deportation order being issued in his absence.
Torres also highlights the harsh conditions Ariel has faced since being transferred to the Krome detention center and now in Arizona, where he was recently relocated. "He told me he went 10 days without being able to shower or shave. His health is deteriorating, and he's suffering from severe anxiety," she said.
Last Friday, Ariel was supposed to have a hearing with an immigration judge, but his transfer prevented his appearance, stopping the judge from making a decision. "The judge lacks jurisdiction if the detainee is not present, either physically or via video call," explained the attorney.
Currently, a motion has been filed to halt his deportation, but the process might be delayed due to his current location in Arizona. "All we ask for is justice, for someone to find out what happened," concluded Lisandra Torres, hoping that Ariel can have another chance to regularize his status in the United States.
In recent weeks, several Cubans, especially those with an I-220A document, have been detained during ICE appointments amidst the deportation policies from the Trump era. Although many have been sent back to the island, so far, these measures have not included immigrants with humanitarian paroles granted at the borders during the Biden Administration.
Understanding the Risks and Challenges for Cuban Immigrants in the U.S.
What led to Ariel Rodríguez Gutiérrez's detention by immigration authorities?
Ariel Rodríguez Gutiérrez was detained due to an outstanding deportation order, which resulted from a missed court hearing caused by a failure to update his address with immigration authorities.
How has the legal representation impacted Ariel's immigration case?
Ariel's initial legal representation failed to provide adequate services, including not updating his address, leading to missed court notifications and a subsequent deportation order.
What are the current conditions faced by Ariel in detention?
Ariel has faced challenging conditions in detention, including going days without being able to shower or shave, which has adversely affected his health and increased his anxiety.