Cuban presenter Frank Abel Gómez Bernal, who was arrested on December 14 in Oklahoma following a traffic violation that led to additional charges, has been transferred by the police to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
This development signifies a critical turn in his legal proceedings and severely complicates his immigration status.
The news was publicly confirmed by influencer Destino Tolk, who has closely monitored the case since Frank Abel's arrest in Oklahoma.
"Unfortunately, today Frank Abel was handed over from the police to ICE, to Immigration. Right now, Immigration has Frank Abel, and his fate is now in their hands," Destino recently stated.
The Dominican-origin communicator explained that this transfer initiates a roughly one-month period in which the presenter’s attorney must work swiftly to prevent his deportation to Cuba.
Among the urgent actions the defense must undertake is gathering documentation proving how Frank Abel entered the United States and crafting solid arguments to persuade a judge that the presenter should not be returned to the island.
"There's a month starting from today, a period in which the lawyer has to act, gather documents to justify how Frank Abel arrived in the United States, to demonstrate to a judge in court that Frank Abel cannot be deported to Cuba because if he is, he could be imprisoned and face consequences," Destino elaborated.
The defense’s primary argument would be to demonstrate that Frank Abel would be at risk if returned to Cuba. However, the outlook is not promising.
Destino shared a revealing conversation with the attorney, where she candidly expressed the case's unfavorable odds: "She told me, I’ll be honest with you, Heidi told me, I can’t be a hypocrite. There’s a 90 percent chance that Frank Abel will be deported," said Destino, quoting the lawyer verbatim.
"That's how she told me, 'bluntly,' without sugarcoating," the influencer emphasized.
From now on, the presenter’s fate lies in the hands of the U.S. immigration system, something also confirmed by Univision journalist Mario Vallejo.
The statement indicated that ICE might deport the Cuban to a third country, although, considering he arrived in the U.S. after 2021, the Havana regime might eventually accept his deportation.
While his defense works to buy time and present convincing evidence, Frank Abel will remain in ICE custody, without assurances that he can face the process in freedom.
Arrest in Oklahoma
Frank Abel Gómez Bernal was taken into custody on December 14 in Oklahoma County after committing a traffic violation that triggered a series of legal charges. The arrest occurred shortly after 3 a.m. when law enforcement stopped him for making a left turn at a red light.
During the inspection, officers discovered he was driving with a suspended license and without active vehicle insurance, worsening the situation.
Additionally, according to accounts shared by Destino and Fernan in the podcast Destino Tolk, the presenter allegedly reacted nervously to the arrest and resisted detention.
"He was driving, the police stopped him, asked for his license, and apparently, the license was expired [...] You know how Frank Abel is, he suffers from nerves and resisted the police," explained Destino.
"Frank Abel is not aggressive; it seems the nerves, knowing the problems he had, his immigration situation, he resisted, panicked," added Fernan.
As a result, the police report included four formal charges:
- Improper left turn in public.
- Driving with a suspended license.
- Operating a vehicle without valid insurance.
- Resisting arrest.
There were already concerns that local police might refer the case to federal immigration authorities. "We fear that when he gets out, the police will hand him over to ICE because he has immigration antecedents due to his I-220A status and is pending court," Destino warned back then.
A Fragile Immigration Status
Frank Abel, 46, emigrated to the United States in 2022 after leaving Cuba with an official passport. Since his arrival, he has been unable to regularize his immigration status, leaving him in a precarious legal situation.
As explained, he was under an I-220A, a form of supervised release pending judicial resolution.
This type of immigration background often raises alerts among authorities when the individual becomes involved in criminal proceedings, even for minor offenses. In this case, the chain of charges was enough to activate the immigration detention and potential deportation process.
The case has sparked solidarity among those close to the presenter and the Cuban community in the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions about Frank Abel's Case
What led to Frank Abel's arrest in Oklahoma?
Frank Abel was arrested after committing a traffic violation, which uncovered that he was driving with a suspended license and without valid insurance. His nervous reaction and resistance to arrest contributed to the situation.
What are the implications of Frank Abel being handed over to ICE?
Being handed over to ICE significantly complicates Frank Abel's legal case and worsens his immigration status, potentially leading to deportation proceedings.
What is the primary defense strategy for Frank Abel?
The defense aims to demonstrate that Frank Abel would face danger if deported to Cuba, hoping to convince a judge to allow him to stay in the United States.