U.S. Deports Cuban Ex-Judge Accused of Sentencing Protesters

• ICE: US deports Cuban ex-judge
• ICE confirms deportation to Cuba
• Asylum request rejected

The United States confirmed the deportation of Melody González Pedraza, a former judge accused of handing down harsh sentences against opposition members and protesters on the island.

The measure was confirmed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which detailed that she was returned on a deportation flight.

Deportation of Melody González Pedraza Confirmed by ICE

An ICE spokesperson specified that González Pedraza was deported last Thursday on a flight from Alexandria, Louisiana, to the Caribbean island.

“González Pedraza was found inadmissible due to her affiliation with the Communist Party of Cuba while serving as a judge,” said the spokesperson.

The decision closed a process that had kept the ex-official in immigration custody since she attempted to enter the US in 2024.

Arrival and Rejection in Florida

The ex-judge arrived in Tampa, Florida, under humanitarian parole, a migration benefit implemented by the Biden administration.

However, immigration authorities denied her entry at the airport after verifying her judicial record in the province of Villa Clara, where she was accused of sentencing political opponents.

Melody González Pedraza applied for political asylum at that time, but her case was dismissed by an immigration judge in May of this year.

The final deportation order was issued on May 30, according to ICE.

Cuban Exile Context in Miami

The deportation comes amid efforts by the Cuban exile community in Miami to expose former officials linked to human rights violations on the island.

For many in the community, the presence of figures associated with the Cuban judicial or repressive apparatus represents a risk and a contradiction to the values of refuge and freedom sought by those fleeing the regime.

The case of González Pedraza joins others in which the US has rejected officials connected to Cuba’s judicial or security systems, intensifying pressure against those seen as responsible for political repression.

Melody González Pedraza Remained in Custody Until the End

Throughout the legal process, the ex-judge remained in ICE custody while her status was resolved.

Finally, after exhausting her appeals, she was deported to Cuba, closing a case that drew attention from both US media and Cuban exile activist circles.

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What’s Next

This episode reinforces the message that the US is willing to act against those accused of persecuting dissidents in Cuba, even if they attempt to benefit from migration programs.

In short: the deportation of Melody González Pedraza sets a precedent for the US stance toward former officials accused of human rights violations on the island.

Should the US apply the same criteria to all Cuban ex-officials linked to the regime who seek asylum?

Source: EFE / www.represorescubanos.com