Negación de la libertad condicional y cómo afecta el acceso de los inmigrantes a ayuda
Angelica Rice • June 3, 2022
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Una de las políticas más controvertidas y volátiles del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS), en este momento, es su política con respecto a la libertad condicional. Según la orientación actual del DHS, “todos los extranjeros sujetos a deportación acelerada que: (i) son extranjeros que llegan a este país (ii) han establecido un temor creíble de persecución o tortura; y (iii) han sido referidos para procedimientos de deportación total bajo la sección 240 de la Ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad (INA), deben estar detenidos y no tienen derecho a fianza o a una audiencia de fianza, PERO pueden ser puestos en libertad condicional. La concesión de la libertad condicional queda totalmente a discreción del oficial de ICE o CBP que revisa el caso; éste, el oficial decide caso por caso y puede otorgarse “por razones humanitarias urgentes o un beneficio público significativo”.
Bajo la administración actual de Trump, la libertad condicional se niega con mucha más frecuencia de lo que se otorga. Muchas oficinas de campo y centros de detención de ICE niegan cada vez más la libertad condicional a los solicitantes de asilo y otros inmigrantes, incluso después de que se descubrió que tenían un “temor creíble” de persecución en su país de origen. El resultado es que cientos y miles de inmigrantes están detenidos durante meses sin cargos ni libertad condicional, a pesar de que tienen un caso de inmigración pendiente.
La guía actual también indica que estos inmigrantes no deben ser liberados con una orden de liberación bajo reconocimiento (OREC) o una orden de supervisión (OSUP). Sin embargo, a pesar de esta guía clara, los oficiales del DHS continúan liberando a muchos inmigrantes, incluidos cubanos, con estas órdenes de reconocimiento y supervisión.
¿Por qué todo esto es un problema? ¿Cómo te afecta esto?
Este es un problema de todos los inmigrantes, pero especialmente de los inmigrantes cubanos.
Si usted es un inmigrante cubano que viene a los Estados Unidos, puede solicitar el ajuste y obtener estatus en los Estados Unidos según la Ley de Ajuste Cubano (CAA).
Sin embargo, para ser elegible para una Tarjeta Verde (Green Card o Tarjeta de residente permanente) basada en la CAA, debe estar presente en los Estados Unidos después de haber sido inspeccionado y admitido o puesto en libertad condicional por un oficial de inmigración después del 1 de enero de 1959. Si usted es cubano que pertenece a la clase de inmigrantes mencionada anteriormente, que ha sido detenido y puesto en libertad bajo una orden de reconocimiento o supervisión, y que no ha recibido libertad condicional o se le ha negado la libertad condicional, NO es elegible para ajustarse según el CAA y obtener su Tarjeta Verde (Green Card o Tarjeta de residente permanente). ¡¡ESTO ES UN GRAN PROBLEMA!!
Este blog no pretende ser un consejo legal y nada aquí debe interpretarse como el establecimiento de una relación abogado-cliente. Programe una consulta con un abogado de inmigración antes de actuar sobre cualquier información que lea aquí.
On January 14, 2026, the Trump administration announced a freeze on immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries . The administration states that this “visa freeze” is intended to review security protocols, “reduce risks,” and control immigration flows. However, the immediate reality is that this change in policy has temporarily suspended visa processing and restricted travel for applicants from numerous countries across the globe. While the legal landscape surrounding these suspensions is highly fluid and subject to change, it is important to consider how this “visa freeze” might impact your current status or immigration plans. The scope of the restrictions varies drastically depending on your country of origin and specific visa category. Most notably, a nationality-based travel ban restricts visa issuance for 19 countries : Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. Beyond this targeted ban, a broader freeze affects applicants from a designated list of up to 75 countries, leading to indefinite delays for many visa petitions. However, it is important to note that immigrant visa applications first need to be processed through USCIS, which has not paused processing applications from the 75 countries. Thus, it is important to contact an attorney to understand at what point in the process this visa freeze may affect your case. While Brazil is included in the list of 75 countries, at the time of this publication, the freeze does not include non-immigrant visas for Brazil . Non-immigrant visas are granted to foreign nationals seeking to enter the United States on a temporary basis for specific purposes, such as tourism, studying, or temporary work. This means that Brazilian applicants can still safely pursue non-immigrant employment options, such as O visas for individuals with extraordinary ability or P visas for internationally recognized athletes, without being subjected to the current travel bans or suspensions. This alert is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. There are many changes and uncertainties, so please consult with a qualified attorney at Santos Lloyd Law Firm, P.C. to understand how these evolving policies might affect your specific case
Recent data in 2026 shows a sharp increase in Requests for Evidence across employment-based visa categories such as EB-1, EB-2 NIW, O, and H-1B. Requests for Evidence (RFEs) are no longer reserved for borderline cases; even robust petitions for high-level talent are facing unprecedented scrutiny. The expansion of the USCIS Vetting Center means automated tools are cross-referencing every petition, triggering RFEs for even the smallest inconsistencies. For EB-2 NIW petitions, adjudicators are increasingly questioning the "National Importance" of a candidate’s endeavor. Even for those with impressive credentials, USCIS now demands evidence of how their work specifically benefits the U.S. on a prospective basis. For O-1A and O-1B visas, officers are applying narrower interpretations of "distinction" and "extraordinary ability," often mischaracterizing evidence already present in the record. Additionally, a troubling 2026 trend is the correlation between Premium Processing and RFEs . For discretionary categories like EB-1A and EB-2 NIW, Premium Processing has increasingly become a "fast track" to a poorly reasoned RFE. Reports indicate that adjudicators, pressured by 15-business-day timelines, may be relying on AI-assisted vetting tools that trigger automated RFEs with general and boilerplate language, rather than a thorough review and analysis of supporting documents and evidence filed. With USCIS employing more rigorous AI-driven vetting and a narrower interpretation of visa criteria, the margin for error has disappeared . As such, ensure you consult with an experienced immigration attorney before filing a petition. ' If you have any questions, please schedule a consultation with one of our experienced attorneys, and we will be more than happy to assist you.
In recent weeks, the U.S. government has moved to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for multiple countries, sparking a wave of last-minute litigation and creating significant uncertainty for beneficiaries. This shift is having a profound impact on those who rely on TPS for lawful presence and work authorization in the United States. Across the country, federal courts have intervened to pause or block scheduled TPS terminations for several countries, including Burma (Myanmar), Ethiopia, Haiti, South Sudan, and Syria. In response to these court orders, USCIS has updated its webpages to indicate that TPS status and related Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) are extended for these populations. However, USCIS is intentionally not providing specific new end dates for EAD validity while the litigation remains in flux. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has prominently noted that it "vehemently disagrees" with these court orders and is actively working with the Department of Justice on next steps. This legal landscape remains highly unpredictable and varies drastically depending on the country of origin. For example, on February 9, 2026, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay allowing the government to proceed with the termination of TPS for Nicaragua, Honduras, and Nepal while the underlying legal challenges continue. Because of this ruling, the automatic extension of work authorization for these individuals has ended, and employers are now required to reverify the work authorization of affected employees, who must present alternative valid documentation to continue their employment. These rapid changes and the lack of clear end dates are causing complications beyond the workplace. Because driver's licenses often track the length of an individual's authorized stay, many DMVs are currently declining to issue or renew driver's licenses for impacted TPS populations. For employers, managing internal communications, avoiding onboarding errors, and navigating Form I-9 compliance has become increasingly complex. It is more important than ever to be well-prepared and proactive in monitoring these rapid changes. At Santos Lloyd Law Firm, P.C., our immigration attorneys are ready to guide you through this evolving process and ensure you are informed, and supported. Please contact us if you have questions or need assistance.
