Eight months after being detained by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Cuban dissidents María Luisa Arango Presibal and Nilo Gilbert Arencibia remain held in separate detention facilities with signed deportation orders, awaiting a court decision on their legal appeals to prevent expulsion, reports MyRGV.com.
The couple, known for their pro-democracy activism in Cuba, were taken into custody on October 24, 2025, during a routine immigration appointment in New York. Their arrest occurred just days before a scheduled asylum hearing on October 29.
Since then, they have been held apart. Arango Presibal is detained at the El Valle Detention Facility in Raymondville, Texas, while Arencibia is at the Adams County Correctional Center near Natchez, Mississippi.
On January 8, 2026, authorities signed an order to deport Arango Presibal back to Cuba. Two days earlier, on January 6, an order was issued to relocate Arencibia to Ecuador.
Their legal representatives argue that returning them to either country could severely endanger their lives due to their history of political persecution and violence in Cuba.
Cuban Activism and Consequences
"These are among the few individuals who have tirelessly fought for democracy in Cuba," stated Diana Albite, an immigration attorney representing them pro bono since 2022. "They have been subjected to torture, physical and emotional abuse for years until they were forced out of their homeland."
Arango Presibal was associated with opposition groups like the Ladies in White and the United Anti-Totalitarian Forum (FANTU), while Arencibia was involved with the Varela Project and also part of FANTU in Santa Clara.
The persecution they reported in Cuba involved severe violence. In November 2014, Arango Presibal was stabbed by a regime supporter, leaving her in critical condition, as reported by CNN en Español.
Less than a year later, in August 2015, Arencibia was run over outside Santa Clara, which Guillermo Fariñas, FANTU's national coordinator, denounced as an attempted murder orchestrated by Cuban counterintelligence agents.
Ongoing Legal Struggles
After enduring years of harassment, they were forcibly expelled from Cuba on November 18, 2016, and sent to Trinidad and Tobago. However, they didn't find safety there either, due to the close ties between that nation and the Cuban government, according to their defenders.
They finally reached the United States on October 30, 2021, through the Texas border and settled in New York. They commenced their asylum application process and complied with ICE requirements until their arrest.
Their legal battle continues. The case, titled Arango Presibal v. Venegas et al., is being processed in the Southern District of Texas and involves former Attorney General Pamela Bondi, former ICE Director Todd M. Lyons, and former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem among the defendants.
On June 12, attorney Jim Harrington, founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project, filed an updated habeas corpus petition on behalf of Arango Presibal. A court decision is still pending.
"It's frustrating because this is obvious," Harrington expressed. "It's dangerous for her to be deported to Cuba, and she has a strong asylum claim. Why would she flee if she has a good chance of obtaining it?"
Rising Deportations Amid Tougher Policies
This case unfolds amidst stricter immigration policies towards Cubans in the United States. According to data cited by MyRGV.com, ICE detentions of Cuban nationals surged by 463% from late 2024 to late 2025, with over 4,800 Cubans reportedly deported since January 2025.
For Albite, the uncertainty about her clients' future is marked by a constant fear.
"My greatest fear is that they could be killed," she admitted. "Attempts have been made on their lives in every place they've been."
Key Questions About the Cuban Dissidents' Situation
Why were María Luisa Arango Presibal and Nilo Gilbert Arencibia detained by ICE?
They were detained during a routine immigration appointment in New York, shortly before a scheduled asylum hearing.
What risks do Arango Presibal and Arencibia face if deported?
Their attorneys argue that deportation could endanger their lives due to past political persecution and violence in Cuba.
What actions have been taken to stop their deportation?
A habeas corpus petition was filed by their attorney, Jim Harrington, but a court decision is still pending.