Sixty-year-old Eduardo Núñez González, a Cuban national, was arrested while taking out the trash in front of his Miami home. He has informed his family that he would rather face deportation than endure the harsh conditions of the immigration detention facility where he is held. On March 20, immigration officers apprehended Núñez and transported him to Torrance County Detention Facility in New Mexico. His relatives report that he is shackled, isolated, and lacks medical attention, as reported by the Miami Herald.
Núñez's arrest occurred suddenly while he was outside his North Miami residence, caught on surveillance footage being handcuffed from behind. His wife, Vilma Pérez Delgado, shared that she wasn't allowed to say goodbye or give him his Spanish passport. Both are Cuban citizens with Spanish nationality who arrived in the U.S. from Spain in 2014, applying for residency under the Cuban Adjustment Act in 2015. While Pérez quickly received her green card and became a U.S. citizen in January 2025, Núñez's application was denied in 2022 after a seven-year wait.
The family re-applied in 2023 with updated documentation, including clean criminal records from Cuba, Spain, and the U.S., but never received a response. Eighteen days before his arrest, they received an official denial letter. Initially, Núñez was taken to the Krome Detention Center, where he spent three days without a shower or a change of clothes, sleeping on the floor of an overcrowded room. He was later moved to the Broward Transitional Center, where he had access to a bed. Before his wife could visit, he was transported overnight, handcuffed and shackled, to New Mexico.
According to Pérez, they weren't informed of his destination or whether he would be deported to Cuba, Spain, or elsewhere. In Torrance, he remains shackled around the waist 24/7, with one hand free only to use the phone and speak with his family. Despite suffering from chronic bronchitis, he hasn't received medical care. The family has formally requested his deportation to Spain, where their daughter and grandchildren live, and they are willing to pay for his flight.
"In this tragedy, we decided as a family that it's best for him to be deported to Spain," Pérez told the Miami Herald. ICE confirmed that Núñez González is under a final deportation order and will remain in custody until his departure, as reported by the news outlet.
Rebeca Sánchez-Roig, an attorney with Catholic Legal Services in Miami, highlighted that a seven-year wait for an adjustment application is excessive and often indicates serious issues within the file or administrative errors. Pérez claims her husband's file was lost by immigration and once had an interview postponed because the file couldn't be located.
Despite his detention, Núñez stays in touch with employees of the family business they started in 2018: a small towing company called Chaveli Towing. His wife, now managing the business alone, describes him as a hardworking, supportive, and deeply family-oriented man. "He is my best friend," she said, affirming her readiness to follow him wherever he might be deported. Her Christian faith and community support sustain her through this challenging time.
Since early March 2025, ICE has intensified actions against Cuban nationals in the U.S., as part of a stricter immigration policy. On March 27, a flight carrying deported Cubans landed in Cuba, continuing a flow that, according to official sources, maintains a pace similar to the Biden administration, contingent on the Cuban government's express approval for each return.
Days later, on March 30, a case emerged of a Cuban detained at the Krome center in Florida, who claimed to be seriously ill without medical attention, increasing public pressure on ICE detention conditions. The man testified, "I'm dying," raising significant concern among human rights organizations and the Cuban migrant community.
By April 6, ICE was again in the spotlight for arresting a young Cuban on his birthday, separating him from his young son with whom he lived in Miami, during a routine check. The child was left in the care of family friends, sparking criticism over the immigration authorities' sensitivity to the social impact of their operations.
Two days later, an unusual turn of events saw ICE release an elderly Cuban detained in a recent operation. The man had been held for over a week under conditions similar to those reported by other detainees, suggesting that the agency occasionally responds to complaints and accumulated social pressure.
Key Questions on Cuban Detention and Deportation
Why did Eduardo Núñez González prefer deportation?
Núñez González chose deportation over remaining in detention due to the inhumane conditions he experienced, such as being shackled, isolated, and lacking medical care.
What led to the denial of Eduardo Núñez's residency application?
The denial of Núñez's residency application after a seven-year wait is attributed to alleged administrative errors and the loss of his file by immigration authorities.
What actions has ICE taken against Cuban nationals recently?
ICE has intensified its actions against Cuban nationals, including deportations and arrests, as part of a stricter immigration policy in early 2025.