A visit to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office in Hialeah, located in Miami-Dade County, ended abruptly for a Cuban citizen who went there intending to proceed with his naturalization process.
What was supposed to be a step closer to U.S. citizenship turned, in a matter of minutes, into a police arrest for outstanding drug-related charges in the state of Colorado.
According to a post shared by USCIS on its Facebook page on January 12, the individual was apprehended during a regular public service day.
The Hialeah office, one of the busiest for citizenship applicants in South Florida, was the scene of this and another arrest following routine background checks that are part of the immigration process.
“It was a busy day at our office in Hialeah, Florida. We handed over to the local police a foreign national from Haiti with an arrest warrant for driving with a suspended license and a Cuban citizen wanted in Colorado on drug-related charges,” USCIS wrote in its official statement. Both individuals had come to the USCIS headquarters to progress or complete their naturalization process.
However, the data cross-check with judicial databases immediately activated the cooperation protocols between the migration agency and local authorities, which culminated in their handover to the police.
“These foreigners were trying to complete the naturalization documents to become citizens of the United States,” USCIS clarified, highlighting that even in the final stages of the immigration process, applicants might face legal consequences due to unresolved issues.
Source: Facebook Screenshot / U.S. Citizenship and Immigration ServicesThe risk of going to USCIS with pending legal issues
The case of the Cuban citizen reveals a little-discussed reality among the migrant community: USCIS offices are not immune to criminal law.
Although many migrants believe that their legal status—such as permanent residency—protects them, the reality is that any outstanding arrest warrant can be executed during a immigration appointment.
This type of situation occurs relatively often. Final interviews for citizenship usually include thorough background checks of criminal and civil records, both at the local and national levels.
USCIS has access to interconnected databases that allow for the detection of active court alerts, pending appearances, and prior convictions anywhere in the country.
Colorado: The root of the case of the detained Cuban
Although the identity of the Cuban citizen has not been revealed, USCIS reported that there was an arrest warrant issued against him by authorities in Colorado.
The drug-related charges prompted his immediate arrest after appearing before immigration officials in Hialeah.
Such orders may have originated years ago and in a state different from that of the applicant’s residence.
However, the naturalization process requires that there be no active judicial or criminal impediments, which makes this phase the most delicate for those with unresolved legal issues.
One of the most common misconceptions among migrants, especially in communities like the Cuban one, is the belief that holding permanent residency or another regular immigration status provides immunity from the law.
This misunderstanding can have serious consequences, such as the arrest of the Cuban citizen during their naturalization appointment.
USCIS has reiterated that immigration status and legal status are separate areas, but closely linked when it comes to accessing citizenship.
The arrest not only interrupts the immigration process but can also lead to the definitive denial of naturalization and even trigger deportation proceedings in serious cases.
A clear message for the migrant community
The case that occurred in Hialeah has become an example of the level of scrutiny that applicants for citizenship face in the United States.
Immigration authorities insist that any procedures with USCIS must be conducted with complete transparency and certainty of having no pending legal issues.
Cooperation between agencies, such as USCIS and law enforcement, is part of standard protocol, especially when active alerts are detected. In this context, attending an immigration appointment without having previously resolved any criminal issues can lead to an unexpected outcome, and, as in this case, to jail.