The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Newark apprehended Michel Proenza Martínez, an undocumented Cuban citizen with a final deportation order, immediately following his release from a federal prison in New Jersey.
ICE has labeled Proenza Martínez as an "illegal criminal offender" with a substantial criminal record that includes burglary, vehicle theft, drug-related offenses, and federal robbery under the Hobbs Act. This serious charge can result in up to 20 years in prison per offense, with a requirement to serve 85% of the sentence without parole.
The Cuban national is currently being processed for removal from the United States, as stated in a release from ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Newark this week.
This situation is consistent with a trend of recent ICE arrests, where undocumented immigrants with deportation orders are intercepted straight out of prison facilities. On March 6, ERO Newark detained Cuban Álvaro Tuero, convicted of sexual assault on a minor under 13, right when he exited the state prison in Bridgeton.
That same day, ICE agents in Boston, Massachusetts, arrested Cuban José Adalberto Miranda Espino, who had a past conviction for second-degree murder and a final deportation order issued on January 18, 2001.
Early in March, in Detroit, Michigan, Cuban Aliosky Rosales Michelena was detained. He had a criminal history involving murder, armed robbery, sexual assault, and drug trafficking, and has had an active deportation order since 2010.
These operations are part of ICE's increased enforcement actions under President Donald Trump’s second administration, focusing on the detention and deportation of undocumented immigrants with criminal backgrounds. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has noted that about 70% of those arrested by ICE are convicted criminals or face active criminal proceedings.
Simultaneously, deportations of Cubans to the island have surged significantly. On February 9, the first repatriation flight of the year arrived in Havana with 170 individuals, at least 50 of whom had convictions for serious crimes such as murder, rape, kidnapping, and drug trafficking, as confirmed by the U.S. government.
The acceptance by the Cuban regime of nationals with criminal records in the U.S. marks a significant shift in deportation policy, given Havana's previous reluctance to take back island citizens who committed crimes and have been in the country since before January 2017.
As of March 19, ICE had completed three flights with a total of 403 Cubans expelled in 2026 alone.
DHS figures indicate that since January 2025, 1,901 Cubans have been deported, bringing the total number of island immigrants expelled during both Trump administrations to 5,286, a historic record surpassing those recorded under the administrations of Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush.
ICE's Actions on Cuban Deportations: Key Insights
What criminal charges does Michel Proenza Martínez face?
Proenza Martínez is noted for crimes including burglary, vehicle theft, drug-related offenses, and federal robbery under the Hobbs Act.
How has the Cuban deportation policy changed recently?
The Cuban government has recently become more accepting of nationals with criminal records being deported from the U.S., a notable change from its previous stance.
How many Cubans have been deported under Trump's administration?
A total of 5,286 Cubans have been deported during both terms of Donald Trump's presidency, according to DHS statistics.