Young Cuban Faces Deportation After Four Months in ICE Detention

A 19-year-old Cuban who legally entered the United States with his family to escape harassment from the Cuban State Security against his father, a Baptist pastor, now confronts the threat of being sent back to Cuba. He has been in the custody of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for over four months.

Daniel Arcadis Solano Jaume was taken into custody on June 25 in Miami following a seemingly minor traffic violation. Since that incident, he has been transferred between various immigration detention facilities, and his application for permanent residency has been denied, leaving his family fearful that returning to Cuba would subject him to retaliation.

The Traffic Violation That Escalated

The case was brought to light by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), an international organization that documents religious freedom violations, and reported by The Christian Post. According to Daniel’s father, Reverend Arcadis Solano Silvera, Daniel was driving through Kendall in Miami-Dade County around 2 a.m. on June 25 when he was pulled over for driving without headlights.

At the time, Daniel, then 18, was taken to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where he stayed for about 48 hours. Before his family could arrange for his bail, he was handed over to ICE custody.

Daniel was initially held at a facility in Miramar, where he reported being crammed into a small room with over 60 people for several hours. He was then moved to the Krome Detention Center in Miami before being transferred to Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego, California.

The transfer, which involved bus and plane travel while shackled, left him severely dehydrated, according to his family, who were unable to contact him for around 48 hours. Daniel turned 19 while in immigration custody, far from his parents and younger sister.

Fleeing Cuba to Avoid Military Conscription

Daniel's ordeal is deeply connected to the religious persecution faced by his father, who served as a pastor in Santiago de Cuba. Solano Silvera, a member of the Eastern Baptist Convention of Cuba, has been subjected to surveillance, threats, interrogations, and arbitrary detentions by State Security, with CSW documenting more than 50 incidents against him, his family, and his congregations.

In March 2023, the Cuban military tried to enroll Daniel, then 15, in military registration. Cuban law requires males to register during the year they turn 16, with active military service starting the year they turn 17. The following day, a State Security agent known as "Anais" sent threatening texts to the family.

Fearing military conscription for their son, Solano Silvera and his wife, Yadely Jaume Martín, decided to leave Cuba. The family journeyed through Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico, eventually securing an entry appointment through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's system. They entered the U.S. legally on August 30, 2023, via Nogales, Arizona.

Dreams of a New Life in the U.S.

Once settled, Daniel completed his education at Felix Varela Senior High School in Kendall. He began working, filed his taxes, and engaged actively in his community's religious activities, dreaming of joining the U.S. Marine Corps. A Marine Corps sergeant, the Miami Baptist Association, and others provided letters supporting his character.

Despite having no criminal convictions, Daniel’s immigration status became precarious after his permanent residency application was denied. The family had applied under the Cuban Adjustment Act in September 2024, which allows eligible Cuban citizens to apply for permanent residency after meeting specific legal requirements, including a minimum period of physical presence in the U.S.

CSW reported that Daniel’s permanent residency application was denied on October 20. His father explained that USCIS rejected his I-485 form, and their lawyers filed an I-290B form to appeal the decision. A court hearing was scheduled for October 28 to request halting the deportation process, but the outcome remains unknown.

Fears of Imprisonment Upon Return

Christian Solidarity Worldwide warned that deportation could expose Daniel to significant danger due to his family’s history of harassment. Anna Lee Stangl, CSW's advocacy director, who has known Daniel’s parents for over two decades, urged U.S. authorities to reconsider his detention and reunite him with his family.

Meanwhile, Solano Silvera works as a hospice chaplain in Miami, providing support to those in vulnerable situations. In a written statement distributed by CSW, he expressed hope that U.S. authorities would fairly assess the case, protect his son’s health and dignity, and allow their family to reunite.