Cuban presenter Alexander Otaola offered reassurance to his fellow Cubans in the U.S. who fear deportation following President Donald Trump's decision to expand the powers of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for the expedited removal of undocumented immigrants. During his show, Otaola addressed particularly those immigrants under the I-220A and I-220B statuses, issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which involve parole or supervision in the country.
Otaola expressed his belief that "good" Cubans—those who are employed, have their insurance and licenses in order, are working towards legalizing their status, and refrain from criminal activities—should not be worried. "If you are I-220A or I-220B, hold a job, have completed your paperwork, are in the process of adjusting your status, and keep your driver's license and car insurance up to date, you have nothing to fear; you won't be deported," he explained.
He emphasized that deportations would target those with criminal records, individuals who have been incarcerated, and those involved in activities like human trafficking, drug dealing, or any other crimes. Otaola is confident that immigrants who have been living peacefully in the U.S. for a year or two will remain unaffected.
"President Trump has stated his support for immigration, specifically legal immigration, highlighting that the United States needs people," Otaola noted.
Earlier this month, Otaola sparked controversy by defining which Cubans, in his opinion, should be deported without hesitation. "We must deport immigrants who did not come for political reasons, those with a criminal record, those who declare themselves communists, and those only interested in starting a business in Cuba and sending cars there," he argued.
Otaola stated that these individuals should be sent "back" because they do not qualify for any immigration status, suggesting they be placed on ships or planes back to Cuba. "This should be done without asking for permission from the Cuban dictatorship, which is another major mistake the United States is making," he added.
The former mayoral candidate acknowledged the existence of "agreements" between the two countries but criticized treating Cuba as if it were a normal functioning nation, which he believes it is not. He also accused the Communist Party of Cuba of using migration flows as a political tool to exert pressure.
Understanding I-220A and I-220B Immigration Status
What are the I-220A and I-220B immigration documents?
The I-220A and I-220B documents are issued by the USCIS and involve parole or supervision for immigrants in the U.S. These statuses mean that the individuals are allowed to remain in the country under certain conditions.
Who is at risk of deportation according to Alexander Otaola?
According to Otaola, those at risk are individuals with criminal records, those who have been in prison, and those involved in illegal activities such as human trafficking or drug dealing. He believes that law-abiding immigrants with up-to-date paperwork are not at risk.
What is Alexander Otaola's stance on U.S.-Cuba relations?
Otaola criticizes any U.S. agreements with Cuba that treat the island as a functioning country and accuses the Cuban Communist Party of using migration as a political tool.