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By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
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A delivery man who came to the United States seeking asylum was apprehended by federal agents at a courtroom in downtown Miami.
Miguel Jerez-Robles, 26, was detained by immigration authorities moments after his case was dismissed at the Miami Immigration Court on May 22. Jerez-Robles, a Cuban immigrant, entered the country via Nogales, Arizona, in 2022.
He was attending what his family believed would be a routine immigration hearing, accompanied by his wife and mother. Government attorneys requested the dismissal of his asylum claim. The judge granted the request, immediately revoking Jerez-Robles' legal status. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, already waiting outside the courtroom, took him into custody, according to his family.
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"For ICE to use entrapment tactics on people who have done nothing wrong is a clear abuse of power. Right now, the choice is either to show up for court and be detained by ICE or have a warrant issued for your arrest. There are no other options," Jerez-Robles' wife, Geraldine Cruz-Dip, told Newsweek.
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A senior Department of Homeland Security official told Newsweek: "Most aliens who illegally entered the United States within the past two years are subject to expedited removals. [Former President Joe] Biden ignored this legal fact and chose to release millions of illegal aliens, including violent criminals, into the country with a notice to appear before an immigration judge. ICE is now following the law and placing these illegal aliens, like Miguel Jerez-Robles, in expedited removal.
"Miguel Jerez-Robles entered the United States illegally in May of 2022. Under the Biden administration, he was caught by U.S. Border Patrol and RELEASED into the country.
"Secretary [Kristi] Noem is reversing Biden's catch-and-release policy that allowed millions of unvetted illegal aliens to be let loose on American streets. This administration is once again implementing the rule of law."
As President Donald Trump's administration ramps up pressure on the nation's immigration enforcers to increase arrests and deportations, ICE appears to be deploying a new strategy that places apprehended migrants into expedited deportation proceedings, a process that allows for faster removal without the need for traditional court hearings.
"Immigrants who show up for their court proceedings and check-ins are the ones operating within the policies and procedures of immigration law. We are here legally and compliant with the process. We want to do things right. We are good and honorable people, just like most immigrants," Cruz-Dip said.
Jerez-Robles' family says he had fully complied with immigration protocols, including regular check-ins and court appearances.
Initially, he was held at the Broward Transitional Center in Pompano Beach, a private immigration detention facility; he was later transferred without prior notice or explanation to the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington. Detainees were not informed of their destination, with many fearing they were being deported, according to Jerez-Robles' family.
He lives in McFarland, Wisconsin, a suburb of Madison, where he works as a shift leader and driver for Bold Logistics, LLC, one of Amazon's delivery partners. Cruz-Dip also works as a driver.
A spokesperson for Amazon told Newsweek that "drivers employed by our partners generally wear branded gear—however, they are not employed by Amazon. They are employed by a Delivery Service Partner."
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Jerez-Robles' detention has devastated his family emotionally and financially. More than half of their household income disappeared overnight. Andrew Billmann, a close family friend, told Newsweek that the family is living paycheck to paycheck.
"Emotionally, they are destroyed and scared. Instead of Miguel and Geraldine planning their lives in the United States, possibly going to college or trade school, and generally living life as a mid-20s couple, they don't know what the next day, week, month, or year holds in store. They don't know if they'll ever see Miguel again," Billmann said.
He expressed outrage at what he described as a betrayal of American values and disregard for due process.
"I'm sickened that our government is engaging in pure xenophobia, entrapping people outside of courtrooms who are not criminals, who have legitimate asylum claims, who are following the law, and who have families, jobs, and lives," Billmann said.
"The American public was led to believe that violent, undocumented, and criminally convicted illegal immigrants are the root of so many problems, yet ICE chooses to entrap immigrants who are the complete opposite—fully documented, with no legal issues or past criminal history whatsoever, with stays of more than two years in the United States," he said.
"ICE is treating inherently good and honorable people like criminals, holding them without bond, presenting no details nor charges, all in obvious violation of habeas corpus."
Jerez-Robles' sister, Vivianne, a medical doctor, and her fiancé, Eduardo Torres Martinez, have canceled their June wedding as the family grapples with the uncertainty surrounding the detention and possible deportation.
"We don't know what's currently happening, how long Miguel will be detained, or if he'll be deported before we see him again. We can't even travel to see him in detention, because there's no way to know where he will be," Cruz-Dip said.
Jerez-Robles' attorney is now working to secure a bond hearing, supported by letters of recommendation, including one from his supervisor. A family friend has offered to act as a sponsor and post his bond if he is granted one.
As the family fights for his freedom, the administration continues to face scrutiny over its immigration enforcement operations. For Jerez-Robles' family, the legal battle is not just about policy; it's about reuniting loved ones, restoring stability, and holding onto the life they've worked to build together.
Update 5/30/25, 5:32 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from the Department of Homeland Security.
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