Uncertainty Grows Over Cuban Women with I-220A Detained in Florida: Latest Updates

Relatives of several Cuban women detained on March 10 during an interview with ICE in Miramar, Broward County, are deeply concerned that their loved ones might be deported back to Cuba. Two husbands of the detained women revealed to Univision that they went nearly 24 hours without any information about their partners. When they finally received news, the women were in Arizona, but only temporarily, as their final destination was a migrant detention center in San Diego, California.

Ernesto David Puig, the husband of Yadira Cantallops, expressed his distress, particularly because he is now solely responsible for their two-year-old son, who continuously asks for his mother. "Whenever someone knocks, he runs to the door. Today, at daycare, he picked up a toy phone and started saying 'mom'... talking to himself," Puig shared. "The fear you had in Cuba, you have it here too. I also have an I-220A. If they detain me, what happens to the boy? He asks where his mom is, and I tell him she's at work. It's tough," he added.

Yadira Cantallops' husband is particularly worried that his wife might be deported to Cuba from California without having the chance to defend her asylum case in court.

Hardships of Detention and Uncertainty

For Lisvani Sánchez, the detention of his wife, Denice Reyes, who was also moved to California, has made the last week extremely challenging and sleepless. "I need her here with me, this is killing me," Lisvani lamented. He described how the women were taken from Broward at 2 a.m., transported to Miami Airport, and then flown to Arizona on a small plane. Alongside Denice, other Cuban women, as well as women from Nicaragua and Haiti, were also relocated.

"The painful part is that since 9 a.m. on Sunday, we've been calling the detention center, and they wouldn't tell us where they were," Lisvani added. Celia Sánchez, the mother of Laura de la Caridad González Sánchez—another detained Cuban woman—mentioned that on Sunday, they were told over the phone that her daughter was still in Broward. However, when a relative visited the center, they discovered she had been transferred. Alarmingly, Laura's pending asylum case, scheduled for December 25, was canceled, leaving her mother worried about the lack of legal representation.

Beatriz Monteagudo, a 25-year-old Cuban woman with few relatives in the United States, is also among the detained, leaving her mother desperate in Cuba.

Legal Struggles and Advocacy

Attorney Eduardo Soto, representing Laura de la Caridad González, expressed uncertainty about the situation. "We don't know exactly where she will end up, but we're fighting for her freedom [...] This is unprecedented. We don't even know why it's happening," Soto stated. Immigration lawyer Jesús Novo, who represents Yadira Cantallops, believes ICE's strategy is to complicate the migrants' legal processes and hinder their defense. "They're denying these individuals access to their lawyers. For instance, if our clients were here, it would be much easier to represent them. They are likely eligible for bail, which would be hard for a judge to deny given the circumstances," Novo explained.

As of Monday night, the families of the detained women had not received confirmation regarding their transfer to California. Their attorneys are awaiting this development to determine the next legal steps in their clients' defense.

Congresswoman Salazar Speaks Out

Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar addressed the detained migrants with I-220A, stating that she had discussions with high-ranking ICE and DHS officials, urging them to halt further detentions and allow asylum cases to be heard. "I'm very aware of the detentions of Cubans with I-220A during their appointments in Miramar, and I'm thoroughly investigating the situation," declared the Cuban-American congresswoman in a heartfelt message of support. She emphasized her ongoing efforts to find a solution for Cubans under this status, stating, "I will not stop fighting until necessary." Salazar remains hopeful that a resolution will be found, particularly under the Trump administration.

Understanding the I-220A Form

The I-220A form, known as the “Order of Release on Recognizance,” allows individuals to be released from federal custody under certain conditions. These include attending immigration hearings and not violating local or federal laws. However, this status does not equate to official admission into the country nor does it provide immigration benefits, placing beneficiaries in a legally precarious position.

A major drawback of the I-220A is that Cuban migrants released under this condition are not eligible to adjust their status under the Cuban Adjustment Act, as they are not considered "inspected and admitted" into the country. This restriction impacts thousands of Cubans who have entered the U.S. in recent years, hoping to obtain permanent residency.

Immigration law experts advise those in this situation to seek specialized legal counsel. It's crucial to comply with all conditions set forth in the I-220A form and attend scheduled meetings with immigration authorities to avoid further complications.