Cuban-American Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar reacts to the release of a Cuban woman with I-220A: "One more freed"

María Elvira Salazar, Cuban-American congresswoman for Florida's 27th district, expressed her gratitude this Tuesday for the release of Cuban mother Yadira Cantallops, who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while attending a routine appointment. She also offered hope to all those with Form I-220A who are still detained, and to others waiting to regularize their immigration status.

On her X account, the Republican expressed her excitement and clarified that she will not rest until all those I-220A holders have documents that allow them to live in the US legally. “One more freed! I receive this good news with relief, but I do not forget those who remain detained or the thousands trapped in legal limbo. My fight does not end until they get the parole they deserve!” she wrote using the hashtag #I220A.

Another one freed! I welcome this good news with relief, but I don't forget those still detained and the thousands trapped in legal limbo.

My fight isn't over until you get the parole you deserve! #I220A https://t.co/ozgN0ja7jP

— Maria Elvira Salazar 🇺🇸 (@MaElviraSalazar) April 23, 2025

ICE authorities arrested Yadira, a Holguín native, last March when she attended an interview at the office in Miramar, Broward County. She was later transferred to a California prison where she was held for a month and eleven days. After presenting her case before an immigration judge, she was fined $1.500, allowing her to be released.

In a video published by journalist Daniel Benítez, it was revealed that the Cuban mother was reunited with her son, a U.S. citizen, and will continue processing his asylum documents. In January 2022, the woman arrived in the United States with her husband, both using Form I-220A, which was recently considered a parole order.

Now that Yadira is home, the situation of other Cuban women who were arrested under similar conditions remains unresolved. Among these cases is that of Denisa Reyes, who was arrested the same day as Cantallops; she also received bail ($6,000), although her release has yet to be verified.

On March 13, 2025, the detention of Cuban women with I-220A status began at their meetings with ICE, coinciding with the Mailén González incident, sparking protests among the Cuban community in Miami. ICE authorities then arrested at least six women with similar status, causing some uncertainty among the Cuban immigrant community residing in the U.S. under I-220A status.

In many of the reported cases, the detainees had no criminal record, were unaware of the reasons behind their arrest, and reported inappropriate conditions at their detention centers.

In recent days, María Elvira has come under fire for allegedly betraying the Cuban community by aligning herself with Trump's anti-immigrant policies. However, amid this campaign, she has been seen supporting several Cuban women who have been arrested by law enforcement, as well as community leaders and legislators working to free their loved ones.

However, the status of many Cubans in the I-220A category still lacks a definitive solution, while the immigrant community intensifies its demand for this status to be accepted as an option for parole or legal immigration regularization.