U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has recently begun arresting Cuban nationals who have lived in the United States for decades under old, previously unenforced deportation orders dating back to the 1980s. The new arrests have sparked fear among Cuban immigrant communities, as many of those detained now face the risk of being repatriated to a Cuba where human rights violations remain a serious concern.

According to immigration attorneys and advocates, dozens of Cubans with final orders of removal from as far back as the Mariel boatlift era are being picked up by ICE. Many of these individuals have lived peacefully in the U.S. for more than 30 years, building families, businesses, and entire lives. Now, after decades of relative security, they are being detained and prepared for deportation.

The situation is particularly alarming because returning to Cuba is not just a matter of starting over—it could mean imprisonment, harassment, or worse. Human rights groups have documented ongoing political repression on the island, with returning nationals often facing punishment, loss of property, and being barred from accessing essential services. For many, deportation could effectively become a life-threatening sentence.

Immigration advocates point out that many of those being targeted had long assumed their deportation orders were dormant. In the past, the U.S. had very limited diplomatic relations with Cuba, and actual deportations were rare. However, changes in U.S.-Cuba relations and shifting immigration enforcement priorities appear to have reopened these cases, leaving individuals who have called America home for decades suddenly vulnerable.

Family members of those detained are speaking out. Maria Lopez, whose father was arrested in Florida last week, said, “My father came here fleeing dictatorship. He built a life here. Now they want to send him back to a place where he could be jailed—or worse. It’s not fair, and it’s not humane.”

Adding to the confusion, many of those arrested have no recent criminal records and have integrated deeply into American society. Some have American-citizen children and own homes and businesses. For them, the United States is not just a place of residence—it is their true home.

The sudden arrests have also raised concerns about due process. Several detainees were reportedly taken in during routine ICE check-ins or traffic stops, without warning that their decades-old cases had been reactivated. Immigration attorneys are now scrambling to file emergency motions to reopen removal cases and seek legal protections.

Meanwhile, advocacy groups are calling on the Trump administration to intervene and halt deportations to Cuba, arguing that current conditions on the island make any return unsafe and morally unacceptable.

As the situation unfolds, fear ripples through Cuban-American communities, many of whom now worry that even longtime residents could be at risk. The question remains: will the United States prioritize old paperwork, or human lives?