A 19-year-old Cuban, whose father is a Baptist pastor that reported religious persecution in Cuba, remains in custody by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as he faces deportation proceedings. An immigration judge has set a new hearing date roughly two weeks from now.
This case has sparked a dispute between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the organization Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). CSW questions both the criminal charges against the young man and the official account of his entry into the United States.
According to The Christian Post on October 30, the young man recently appeared before an immigration judge, who scheduled another hearing without providing a definitive resolution on his potential deportation.
He has been held in immigration detention since June 25, after being apprehended by police in Florida for a traffic violation.
Disputed Drug Charges
A DHS spokesperson told a U.S. media outlet that the Cuban, identified as Daniel Arcadis Solano Jaume, faced three felony charges related to drug possession. However, CSW stated that while these charges were initially brought forward, they were subsequently dismissed by a judge.
"Therefore, they should not be used as legal grounds or any justification for deportation," a CSW spokesperson declared.
The organization further noted that, according to the young man's father, he has no criminal convictions, and the only issue pending is the traffic violation.
The public information lacks a judicial resolution to independently verify the dismissal of the three charges. It also does not specify when these charges were filed or dismissed.
Conflicting Accounts of U.S. Entry
The DHS claims that Solano Jaume entered the United States illegally via Nogales, Arizona, on August 30, 2023, and was subsequently released inside the country during President Joe Biden's administration.
CSW disputed this description, explaining that the family utilized the border appointment procedure available at the time for Cuban and Nicaraguan citizens in Mexico.
"The family followed this process, went to Mexico, attended their appointment in Nogales, Arizona, and was admitted into the U.S. by the Border Patrol," the organization explained.
They also clarified that the young man was a minor when he arrived with his parents and later began the process to apply for permanent residence under the Cuban Adjustment Act.
The DHS, however, maintained that having a pending application for immigration benefits does not automatically grant legal status.
"All of his claims will be heard by an immigration judge, and he will receive due process," said a department spokesperson.
Family Fleeing Religious Persecution
The case is rooted in allegations of harassment against the young man's father, who served as a Baptist pastor in Santiago de Cuba.
According to CSW, Cuban authorities subjected him to years of surveillance, interrogations, and threats related to his religious activities.
The family left Cuba in 2023 after military personnel attempted to enlist the then-teenager into military service, as reported by the organization.
The young man completed his high school education in Miami, started working, and had plans to join the U.S. Marine Corps.
His application for permanent residency was denied in October by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and his lawyers have filed an appeal to challenge the decision.
CSW warns that deporting him to Cuba could expose him to retaliation due to his family's history of religious persecution.
Key Questions on the Detention and Deportation Case
What are the charges against Daniel Arcadis Solano Jaume?
The DHS initially charged him with three felony drug possession charges. However, Christian Solidarity Worldwide claims these charges have been dismissed by a judge.
Why is the family's account of entering the U.S. disputed?
The DHS claims Solano Jaume entered illegally, while CSW asserts that the family used a legal border appointment process to enter the U.S. lawfully.
What could happen if Solano Jaume is deported to Cuba?
CSW warns that deportation could expose him to potential retaliation due to his family's history of religious persecution in Cuba.