On Tuesday, dozens of Cubans gathered in long lines in front of the offices of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Miramar, Broward County, according to journalist Javier Díaz.
Through his Facebook page, the Miami-based reporter shared images showing numerous migrants, many of them carrying the I-220B document, nervously waiting their turn.
These migrants face the possibility of being detained and deported if they present themselves to immigration authorities.
“When you think you’re having a bad day, remember this image: they are migrants, mostly Cubans, who have an appointment with ICE and after passing this fence they risk being detained and, therefore, deported,” Díaz said in his post.
The journalist said that the photograph was taken in the morning at the ICE office in Miramar. The facility was packed with Cubans who were complying with an order to present themselves to immigration authorities. “They were nervous and with the greatest faith and hope that they would not be arrested,” Díaz stressed.
Detentions and deportations
In recent weeks, immigration lawyers in Miami have denounced that the US authorities are detaining and deporting those with the I-220B document, especially young people without criminal records who must be previously accepted by the Cuban regime.
Last Friday, the United States deported a group of 54 irregular migrants to Cuba on a flight that landed at José Martí International Airport. According to the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), the group consisted of 40 men and 14 women.
Most of them were people who had left Cuba legally, but later took irregular routes to reach the US border.
Among those deported was Mario de León Díaz, a Cuban with immigration document I-220B who had been detained by ICE and faced the threat of deportation. The family’s lawyer, Eduardo Soto, filed a petition requesting emergency parole, arguing the delicate situation of the young migrant’s pregnant wife.
De León Díaz had a deportation order for failing a credible fear interview at the U.S. border. He was detained during what seemed like a routine meeting with ICE last week. This case adds to the dozens of Cubans who have been returned to the island on at least seven deportation flights throughout the year.
Díaz lamented that “the lives of people who do not yet have legal status in the United States can change overnight.” He advised migrants to work on their cases and look for ways to legalize themselves.
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