A Cuban man living in the United States took to TikTok on Sunday to share what he described as a harrowing experience during his annual supervision appointment with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The video quickly sparked reactions within the Cuban community abroad.
Jose Diaz (@josediazech) recounted that on June 16, he attended his routine appointment expecting a smooth process involving a quick scan, data verification, and a new appointment for the following year.
"Honestly, I thought it would be quick, like before, where they'd scan me, ask for my name, where I lived, give me an appointment for next year, and everything would be normal. But it wasn't," he narrated.
From the very beginning, something felt off.
"When I arrived, the atmosphere was a bit strange. The people ahead of me were going through, and those who came after me were also moving along. They made me sit in a different chair," he described.
Once called, the agents handed him a paper with the initials DTA, instructing him to head to the third-floor office—a place he hadn't been sent to in his four years of attending these appointments.
"I'd never in my life been to the third-floor office. I've been going to the same appointment for four years," he said, visibly shaken in the video.
What he encountered upon exiting the elevator left him frozen: a sign reading "Immigration Detention Office."
"I thought, my God, this is it, this is it. Goodbye, goodbye, I'm headed back to Cuba," he expressed, conveying the panic he felt at that moment.
The video features the hashtag #i220a, indicating that Diaz holds an I-220A form, a release order under recognizance that ICE issues to migrants while their cases progress. This document does not confer a definitive immigration status nor does it automatically protect against detention or deportation.
The Escalating Pattern of Fear Among Cuban Migrants
Diaz's account highlights a growing trend that has become increasingly common since January 2025, when the Trump administration intensified immigration policies. Cuban individuals with I-220A detained during routine check-ins have shifted from isolated incidents to a documented pattern.
In May 2026, ICE detained two Cuban pastors in Texas during a supervision appointment. In another case, a Cuban dissident couple arrested in New York in October 2025 is facing deportation orders signed in June 2026.
The Uncertain Outcome of ICE Appointments
However, not every appointment ends in arrest. In May 2026, a Cuban woman in Jacksonville reported that her appointment went smoothly, and she was assigned a new date for 2027, illustrating the unpredictability surrounding each appearance.
A report by Human Rights Watch published in May 2026 revealed that ICE deported around 6,000 Cubans to Mexico over the past year under third-country removal agreements, as Cuba and the United States lack effective cooperation for direct deportations.
Diaz concluded the video by indicating that his story isn't over: "There's more to tell," he wrote in the description, hinting at a second part revealing the outcome of his visit to the detention office.
Understanding I-220A and Its Implications for Cuban Migrants
What is an I-220A form?
An I-220A is a release order under recognizance issued by ICE to migrants, allowing them to remain free while their immigration case is processed. It does not provide a permanent immigration status or guarantee protection from deportation.
Why are Cuban migrants with I-220A forms being detained more frequently?
Since January 2025, increased enforcement of immigration policies under the Trump administration has led to more frequent detentions of Cuban migrants with I-220A forms during routine ICE appointments.
Can an ICE appointment end without detention?
Yes, not all ICE appointments result in detention. Some individuals, like a Cuban woman in Jacksonville, have reported successful appointments and received new dates for future check-ins.