A Cuban woman, known on TikTok as @nayleenonishango, recently shared her harrowing experience of spending nearly eight months in a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center. Her release was secured through a habeas corpus petition filed by her attorney.
She recounted that her arrest occurred in September 2025 during a routine immigration appointment, following nearly five years of residing in the United States. "I went to my regular appointment, my regular check-up after almost five years in this country, and ICE detained me," she explained in her video.
She was taken to a detention center she referred to as "Carnet City," where she remained until her recent release. "By May 16, I would have completed eight months in ICE detention," she noted.
Legal Victory and Faith as Sources of Strength
Her freedom was achieved through legal means. "My lawyer filed my habeas corpus. And here I am, back in the United States, free," she declared.
During her time in detention, she shared a room with seven other women. According to her account, none of them were deported: "All the people who were inside with me are now outside. None of them were deported."
Identifying as a practitioner of the Regla de Ocha, she credited her release to her faith. In her video, she challenged the common belief that dedicated practitioners of this religion are shielded from hardships. "No one has power over us except God. Our guardian angels, our orishas, God, all the entities that accompany us, those are the ones who have power over us," she asserted.
A Transformative Experience
Despite the ordeal, she described it as transformative. "When you're on the brink of losing everything, you start to value what's truly important," she remarked. She concluded her message with a sense of relief: "Thank God the nightmare is over. It wasn't the best scenario, but it was truly a unique and incredible experience."
This case is part of a growing number of Cubans detained during regular immigration appointments under the policies of the Trump administration. A 79-year-old Cuban woman spent nine months in ICE detention before her release in February 2026, and a high-risk pregnant Cuban woman was arrested during a routine appointment in San Antonio, Texas, in October 2025.
Habeas Corpus: A Legal Lifeline
The habeas corpus petition has become a crucial legal tool to contest these detentions. A young Cuban man with an I-220A form was released after nearly three months through this method, and another Cuban detainee regained freedom after five months using the same legal avenue last week.
Cuban dissident Elionay González Crespo was also freed after ten months in ICE detention, having been arrested in June 2025 and released in April 2026.
ICE reported 15,487 arrests of Cuban immigrants during the 2025 fiscal year, marking a 200% increase over the previous year, amidst the maximum migration pressure policy driven from Washington.
Insights into Cuban Immigrant Detentions by ICE
What led to the Cuban woman's release from ICE detention?
Her release was secured through a habeas corpus petition filed by her attorney, challenging the legality of her prolonged detention.
How did the Cuban woman describe her detention experience?
She described the experience as transformative, highlighting the importance of valuing what truly matters when faced with adversity.
What role did faith play in the Cuban woman's ordeal?
She attributed her strength and eventual release to her faith in the Regla de Ocha, emphasizing that only God and her spiritual guides have power over her life.
How common are detentions of Cuban immigrants during routine appointments?
Such detentions have become increasingly common, with ICE reporting a significant rise in arrests of Cuban immigrants during the 2025 fiscal year.