Cuban Woman with I-220A Shares Experience After ICE Appointment: "Many Were Wearing Ankle Monitors"

A Cuban woman residing in the United States recently took to Instagram to share her experience before and after her annual appointment with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), sparking a wave of support among thousands of fellow Cubans who share similar uncertainties.

Leyla González, who entered the U.S. through the border in 2021 and holds an I-220A document, posted a video the night before her appointment. Speaking calmly and honestly, she confessed to feeling something that hadn't happened in years of uneventful appointments: "Nothing has ever happened to me before. But this year, I must admit I'm extremely nervous."

The influencer decided to record her thoughts because she knew she wasn't alone: "I know many of you might feel the same way and can relate to my situation because you're going through exactly what I am."

Leyla's experience is just one of many faced by Cubans with I-220A in the U.S. Stay updated on ICE appointments, immigration forms, and news in U.S. immigration.

Her initial video garnered over 326,000 views, highlighting the significant impact of this issue within the Cuban exile community.

After her appointment, Leyla shared a second video expressing gratitude for the overwhelming support on social media, and detailed what transpired inside the ICE office.

Arriving at 7:45 am for her 8:00 am appointment, she encountered a long line outside. Inside, she noticed a distinct separation: "They divided the Cubans on one side into a line and the other nationalities into another. Then they called the other nationalities first, leaving the Cubans waiting."

Eventually, all Cubans present had their documents collected and were moved to a different waiting area, where they remained for hours without information. An officer then began calling each person individually to return their documents with the outcome.

For Leyla, the result was the best she could hope for: "They gave me my document and scheduled me for the same date next year. I didn't see any detentions, and no one was taken into custody," she shared.

However, she did observe something that underscores the current migration tension: "There were many Cubans wearing ankle monitors, as well as people from other nationalities like Venezuelans and Nicaraguans; many were wearing ankle monitors."

She concluded with a heartfelt message to those still awaiting their turn: "If you're waiting for your ICE appointment, I wish you the best of luck and send a big kiss, because I know how it feels."

This testimony comes at a time of significant uncertainty for I-220A holders. In 2026, ICE appointments have had varied outcomes: some Cubans leave without issues, while others face deportation orders or expedited removal after attendance.

The I-220A is a supervised release order allowing individuals to remain out of custody while their immigration case is pending. However, it is not equivalent to parole and does not grant a definitive immigration status, leaving hundreds of thousands of Cubans in legal limbo.

Last week, it was revealed that a lawsuit in Miami could pave the way to residency for I-220A holders: Federal Judge Jacqueline Becerra rejected the government's attempt to dismiss the Bello-Rubio vs. DHS lawsuit, filed by 992 Cubans, which seeks to have the I-220A recognized as parole to qualify for residency under the Cuban Adjustment Act. If successful, the case could benefit between 500,000 and 600,000 Cubans.