Juana Orquídea Acanda Rodríguez, a 62-year-old from Matanzas, Cuba, was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Miami International Airport on March 20.
Breitbart reported that she is accused of hiding her ties to the Cuban Communist Party and her significant role in the judicial system under the Castro regime. Rodríguez arrived in Miami under an immigrant visa arranged by her son, a U.S. citizen.
This incident highlights the ongoing issue of former Cuban officials, linked to Castro's regime, seeking refuge in the United States.
A federal source close to the case expressed concern over the situation by stating, "This is not an isolated case. There are more frequent attempts of entry by former officials who supported a repressive model and now seek to benefit from the freedoms of the country they once criticized."
Rodríguez attempted to erase any evidence of her communist past before her travel to the U.S., signaling the sensitive nature of her background.
Rodríguez, during her 30-year career, integrated herself deeply into the judicial frameworks of the Castro regime. She was frequently recognized locally for her loyalty and commitment to the regime, being featured positively in various Cuban state-media outlets.
In December 2023, she received the "Order of Judicial Merit" from a local Cuban media channel in Matanzas, a testament to her significant contributions.
An Independent Cuban outlet, 14 y Medio, noted, "And she is not a simple retired worker, but a figure recognized on more than one occasion for her loyalty and commitment to the regime."
The outlet further highlighted that Rodríguez's dedication to the judicial system was profound, quoting a report that stated, "Perhaps retirement will keep her away, in quotation marks, from the courts, but in her mind and heart, Orquídea will always be a judge."
Rodríguez herself, in December last year, referred to her recognition, stating, "It is the recognition of my life’s work, the realization of my dreams, and is the best example of the work of the Revolution." This statement conveys her deep-rooted connection to the ideological and functional aspects of the regime she served.
The issue of former Cuban regime officials relocating to the U.S. has become increasingly prominent. Since February 2023, over 115 known Cuban repressors have reportedly moved to the U.S., leveraging immigration initiatives launched during the Biden administration.
This has raised significant concerns about the integrity of U.S. immigration processes concerning individuals potentially involved in oppressive actions under the Castro regime.
Moreover, the Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba keeps a list of over 1,000 verified Castro regime repressors, suggesting the scale of the issue might be larger than visible cases like that of Rodríguez indicate. Just last month, a known Cuban repressor, Misael Enamorado Dager, chose to self-deport following public scrutiny over his presence in the U.S.
Another similar case involved Tomas Emilio Hernandez Cruz, a former member of the Castro regime's intelligence apparatus. He was detained in Miami by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for obtaining Lawful Permanent Residence Status fraudulently. This underlines the broader pattern of former regime affiliates seeking to evade potential repercussions in Cuba by relocating to the U.S.
An unnamed source discussing the trend with Cuban-American journalist Mario Pentón stated, "As it always happens, the children of the regime’s leaders at all levels go to the United States and then try to bring their old parents to escape the hunger and poor conditions in the hospitals they created for the people. This has to stop."
The case of Juana Orquídea Acanda Rodríguez continues to unfold, with U.S. authorities investigating the extent of her undisclosed activities and affiliations. It is a part of a larger narrative about accountability, asylum, and the complexities of international justice as they intersect with U.S. immigration policy.