On March 28, 21-year-old Víctor Manuel Izquierdo Peralta, a Cuban national, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Tampa, Florida. This alarming event occurred on the day he was celebrating his birthday. Víctor had voluntarily attended a scheduled immigration appointment as part of his legal supervision process, anticipating a routine check-in. However, the day took a devastating turn for him and his family.
Arriving at the ICE offices as early as 3:00 a.m., Víctor waited patiently. It was the last time his wife, Sunamy Pérez Alonso, a U.S. citizen, saw him as a free man. She later received a brief, heart-wrenching phone call from Víctor: "I don't have time to talk. They're only allowing me to call you to inform you. They're keeping me detained. I'm handcuffed at the hands, feet, and stomach," Sunamy recounted to Telemundo 31.
Following his arrest, Víctor was initially transported to the Chrome detention facility and is currently held in Broward County.
A Family Torn Apart: Clinging to a Single Hope
Izquierdo faced deportation to Mexico in 2019 while still a minor. In 2021, he re-entered the United States through the southern border and was issued a Form I-220B, allowing him to remain free under specific conditions despite a standing deportation order.
Over the past three years, Víctor adhered strictly to these conditions: he reported to ICE on schedule, maintained a clean record without any criminal history, and has been married to a U.S. citizen for over a year. Together, they share a one-year and eight-month-old child and have been working installing solar panels.
The couple's sole legal hope lies in a marriage-based residency application submitted a year ago. According to his mother, the ICE officer acknowledged the application but stated that Víctor "had to wait for the process in Cuba."
Sunamy has pleaded for his release, stressing, "He's asthmatic. He's not a criminal, not a delinquent. We just work to provide for our son. He needs to be here to raise him."
Attorney John De la Vega, involved in the case, clarified ICE's stance: immigrants released under the I-220B form with final deportation orders are prioritized for deportation, even if they have active processes.
"Immigrants in the United States released under Form I-220B with a final deportation order are considered a deportation priority for ICE," he stated.
An Alarming Trend: Other Cubans Facing Similar Fates
Víctor's case is not an isolated incident. Just three days earlier, Cuban exiled journalist Esteban García del Toro was arrested during an appointment at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office in Orlando while handling his marriage-based residency application. Despite fleeing repression in Cuba and being married to an American citizen currently undergoing chemotherapy, ICE detained him without explanation, citing an existing deportation order.
His attorney, Roberto López Ortiz, criticized the arrest as an intimidation tactic: "There's no logical reason for ICE to detain him now, other than to intimidate others and make a statement."
Another recent case involves José Francisco García Rodríguez, a 73-year-old Cuban detained by ICE on April 1 in Lafayette, Louisiana, on his way to work. Having lived in the U.S. for 45 years since arriving during the Mariel boatlift, José has no recent criminal history.
His stepdaughter expressed outrage, stating, "He worked his entire life, paid taxes, never used state benefits. He cares for his wife with dementia and has heart issues. This detention is unnecessary and cruel."
Understanding ICE Detentions of Cuban Immigrants
Why was Víctor Manuel Izquierdo Peralta detained by ICE?
Víctor was detained due to a final deportation order despite having a pending marriage-based residency application and adhering to all conditions of his legal supervision.
What are the implications of being issued a Form I-220B?
A Form I-220B allows an immigrant to remain free under specific conditions while awaiting deportation. However, they are still considered a deportation priority by ICE.
How are family members affected by ICE detentions?
Families are often separated, causing emotional distress and hardship, especially when the detained individual is a primary caregiver or financial provider.