Cuban Man Detained After Knife Incident in Downtown Miami Apartment

A Cuban national was taken into custody on Monday after allegedly breaking into an apartment in Downtown Miami, wielding a knife, and attempting to forcibly evict its two residents, causing injuries, according to the Miami Police Department.

The 24-year-old suspect, José Alejandro Ramírez, faces charges of armed burglary with assault or battery following the violent episode in apartment 312 of the Art Plaza residential complex, authorities reported.

The incident could lead to Ramírez's deportation, as he is subject to an immigration hold issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which may take him into custody once his criminal proceedings are concluded.

The Illegal Eviction Attempt

Court documents reveal that the altercation occurred at noon on Monday when a woman associated with the apartment hired Ramírez to evict the tenants for being six days late on rent, stated Officer Michael Vega, spokesperson for the Miami Police.

Preliminary case details suggest the woman was renting the apartment and had unlawfully sublet it to others, a violation of her lease agreement. She was also taken into custody.

"This incident happened yesterday at 12 p.m. when the apartment owner hired a young man, who is now also under arrest, to go to her apartment and remove the people staying there because they hadn't paid the rent," Vega explained.

Details of the Altercation

Ramírez entered the property using keys provided by the woman, grabbed a kitchen knife, and headed to a bedroom. One of the victims, Vics Span, told Telemundo 51 that he was eating in his room when the intruder suddenly appeared.

"I had just returned from running errands and was eating a dish of meat with cheese in my room when, out of nowhere, a stranger walked in," Span recounted.

When Span began recording the incident with his phone, Ramírez dropped the knife and lunged at him. "He seemed startled and didn't want any videos or photos. He threw the knife down and jumped on me," Span described.

During the struggle, Ramírez headbutted Span, breaking a tooth. The second occupant, identified as Jake, heard the commotion from the bathroom and came to help; together, they subdued the assailant and called the police. The other victim sustained a minor finger injury.

Legal Consequences and Immigration Status

Officers recovered the keys and a large knife from the scene as evidence and reviewed the video Span captured, which depicted Ramírez entering the room, jumping onto the bed, and being restrained.

At his court appearance on Wednesday before Judge Mindy S. Glazer, the defense argued that Ramírez had permission to enter the apartment since he was given the keys. This defense was unsuccessful; the court emphasized the knife's use and ordered that Ramírez remain in custody without bail as his legal process continues in Miami-Dade County. He is charged with armed burglary with assault or battery and attempted robbery of a dwelling with assault or battery.

The case underscores a critical legal misstep with severe implications: in the United States, no individual can forcibly evict another, regardless of having keys or claiming landlord authorization. Evictions must proceed through formal judicial channels.

Ramírez's situation is further complicated by the ICE hold. Once his state criminal case concludes, the Cuban national may be transferred to federal custody and potentially deported to Cuba or another country.

Amid the Trump administration's maximum pressure policy against illegal immigration, ICE arrests of Cubans surged by 463% between October 2024 and January 2026. Official figures from the Department of Homeland Security indicate that over 42,000 Cubans have final deportation orders in the U.S.