A Cuban citizen has been sentenced to 18 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after being found guilty of human smuggling by a federal district judge in Miami. Rafael Rodríguez Hernández, 35, was apprehended on September 29, 2024, when U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers caught him transporting 27 individuals on his vessel from the Bahamas to the United States, according to a Friday statement by the Department of Justice.
During the operation, CBP agents confirmed that all individuals on board, except Hernández, were foreign nationals lacking authorization to enter the U.S. Among them were five Ecuadorians who had previously been deported. U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) officers brought Hernández and the five Ecuadorians ashore to face criminal charges, while the remaining 22 foreign nationals were returned to the Bahamas.
In January of this year, Hernández pleaded guilty to human smuggling charges in court. The investigation into this case was carried out by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Miami, with assistance from the CBP and the USCG's 7th District. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner Stiehl is prosecuting the case.
Hernández's sentencing aligns with U.S. authorities' efforts to curb human trafficking along land and sea borders, an initiative that has intensified since the implementation of stricter immigration policies under the Trump administration. The involvement of Cuban nationals in human trafficking networks to the United States is a recurring issue.
Earlier this month, Yaquelín Domínguez Nieves, 26, was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison after being found guilty of participating in a smuggling scheme that resulted in the deaths of 16 Cuban migrants in November 2022. Additionally, two other Cubans were found guilty in connection with a human smuggling operation in Caribbean waters in October 2024.
On March 4, a federal district judge in Miami sentenced Yordany Capote León, 31, to three years and one month in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Meanwhile, Yuniel Cabrera Piloto, 44, faces a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison, along with three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. His sentencing is scheduled for May 8 in Miami.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas announced that Humberto Yosvany Arriola Rivero, a 30-year-old Cuban national, was convicted of conspiracy to traffic persons and sexual assault of a migrant in a safe house in El Paso. He will spend nearly a decade in federal prison for these offenses.
Understanding Human Smuggling and Legal Implications
What was Rafael Rodríguez Hernández convicted for?
Rafael Rodríguez Hernández was convicted for human smuggling after being caught transporting 27 individuals from the Bahamas to the United States without authorization.
How does the U.S. handle cases of human smuggling?
The U.S. employs strict legal measures including prison sentences, supervised release, and fines to combat human smuggling, as part of broader efforts to secure its borders.
Who is involved in investigating human smuggling cases?
Human smuggling cases are investigated by agencies such as Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard, often working in collaboration.