A Cuban national with a criminal past involving electronic fraud and vehicle theft has been deported from the United States, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This action is part of a broader effort to remove immigrants who have served sentences for various offenses.
The individual, Omar Loaces González, was deported on July 17, as stated in a DHS release on July 31. The agency highlighted the removal of several immigrants with criminal records while asserting that crime rates in the U.S. have declined during President Donald Trump's administration.
According to the DHS, Loaces González had been convicted of vehicle theft and wire fraud, leading to his inclusion on the list of deported immigrants with criminal backgrounds. The communication did not specify the country to which he was deported.
Loaces González's case had already garnered attention weeks earlier. On June 12, the ICE New Orleans office announced his arrest and mentioned that he was in immigration custody pending further procedures. A report by U.S. Law Enforcement noted that the agency revealed his prior conviction for wire fraud, a federal offense involving the use of phone calls, emails, text messages, or other electronic communications to deceitfully obtain money or goods.
Court records indicate that Loaces González pled guilty to a charge of wire fraud related to defrauding the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programs, which were established to provide financial support to businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The investigation uncovered his attempt to seize $342,877, of which he successfully obtained $210,832. His criminal history also included prior convictions for grand theft of a motor vehicle, illegal fuel transportation, and operating a commercial vehicle without the necessary license.
During sentencing, the court acknowledged the defense's arguments regarding his family circumstances but concluded that the severity of the fraud against public aid programs during the pandemic, coupled with his criminal history, warranted a sentence exceeding federal guidelines. Ultimately, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals upheld his 31-month prison sentence.
The deportation of Loaces González was noted in a DHS release where the Trump administration claimed that homicides, vehicle thefts, robberies, and other crimes have seen reductions in the first half of 2026. DHS Deputy Secretary Lauren Bis partly credited this decrease to the deportation of immigrants with criminal records.
Understanding Deportation and Crime Rates
What crimes led to Omar Loaces González's deportation?
Omar Loaces González was deported following convictions for wire fraud and vehicle theft.
How did Loaces González commit wire fraud?
He engaged in wire fraud by using electronic communications to deceive and illegally obtain funds from the federal Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What impact did Loaces González's deportation have on crime rates?
The deportation is part of a wider strategy by the Trump administration to reduce crime rates, which they claim have decreased partly due to the removal of immigrants with criminal backgrounds.