Cubans Anxiously Await ICE Decisions, Unsure if They'll Celebrate Christmas with Their Children in the U.S.

Dozens of Cubans, many accompanied by young children, gathered this week in front of the Orlando office of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with a question weighing heavily on their minds: will they be able to spend Christmas with their families in the United States, or will they leave their appointment in detention?

The scene, characterized by cold, silence, and anxiety, was detailed by the Orlando Sentinel, illustrating how this office has become a place of fear for asylum seekers who comply with every legal requirement yet still dread not returning home. Over a hundred immigrants lined up in the early morning hours, some having traveled for hours, without any clear idea of their immediate future.

Among them was Pedro Yusbel González Guerra, a 34-year-old Cuban who arrived in the United States after a perilous journey on a makeshift boat from Cuba. Three days at sea, dehydration, children on board, and harrowing moments that still haunt him marked this voyage, which nearly cost the life of a young girl in their group.

Now residing in Florida with his wife and two children, one of whom was born in the U.S., he works in construction and solar energy while awaiting a final decision on his asylum application. Before entering the ICE office, González Guerra could only hope for a favorable outcome. "It's impossible to live in Cuba, that's why we're here seeking refuge," he told the local media. Hours after his appointment, his family remained without news.

The Orlando Sentinel reports that the number of people attending mandatory check-ins at the Orlando ICE office has tripled since April, alongside rising detentions and fears of family separations. Immigrant advocates warn that many individuals attend their appointments not knowing if they will leave freely or be sent to a detention center.

Outside, volunteers and religious leaders attempt to ease the tension with prayers, hot coffee, and words of encouragement. Pastor Sócrates Pérez, from the coalition "Immigrants Are Welcome Here," explained to the Orlando Sentinel that the fear is not unfounded, as many migrants have witnessed friends or family being detained during their immigration appointments.

Some, however, managed to leave with temporary relief. Cuban Zureli Escalona, who attended with her husband and four-year-old son, received a one-year extension and broke down in tears as she exited the office. "They gave me one more year," she said, kneeling on the sidewalk in tears.

Stories like these are echoed in various cities across the United States and are part of a reality that deeply concerns the Cuban community, plagued by immigration uncertainty and the constant fear of family separation.

For many, Christmas approaches not as a celebration but as a deadline that could signify a significant turning point in their lives.