Rep. Salazar Urges Secretary Mullin to Ensure Fair Treatment for Cubans with I-220A

WASHINGTON, D.C. - This week, Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar (FL-27) sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin urging the Department to take action on behalf of thousands of Cubans who remain trapped in legal limbo after being released into the United States under Form I-220A.

In the letter, Rep. Salazar asks DHS to review the possibility of granting parole-in-place to Cubans issued I-220A who have no criminal record and to ensure they are treated fairly and consistently under the Cuban Adjustment Act. She previously raised these concerns with former Secretary Kristi Noem, urging the Department to correct the government's inconsistent treatment of Cubans who arrived under similar circumstances. With thousands of families still facing uncertainty, she is renewing her call for action.

"For years, the Biden administration left thousands of Cuban families in legal limbo, granting some parole while issuing others an I-220A for the exact same circumstances. That was never fairness, and it was never what the Cuban Adjustment Act was meant to do," said Rep. Salazar. "I have fought for these families since I came to Congress, and now I'm asking Secretary Mullin to finally process these cases and give these Cubans the fair shot at freedom they've been waiting years."

The Congresswoman argues that the inconsistent treatment of Cuban nationals who arrived at the U.S. border has created a two-tiered system in which some individuals were granted parole while others, including members of the same family, were issued I-220A despite arriving under similar circumstances. She warns that this disparity has divided families, left thousands without a clear pathway to permanent residency, and forced many to pursue unnecessary asylum claims.

Rep. Salazar outlines three key consequences of this inconsistency:

• A two-tiered immigration system in which members of the same family face different legal outcomes despite arriving under identical circumstances.
• Thousands of Cuban nationals left without a clear pathway to permanent residency under the Cuban Adjustment Act.
• Unnecessary asylum filings that place additional strain on an already overburdened immigration court system.

To address these concerns, Rep. Salazar urges the Department of Homeland Security to:

• Review the possibility of granting parole-in-place to Cubans with I-220A who have no criminal record.
• Ensure these individuals are treated fairly and consistently under the Cuban Adjustment Act.
• Restore stability and unity for Cuban families in Miami and across the nation.

Rep. Salazar also notes that many Cubans with I-220A are medical professionals, entrepreneurs, and skilled workers who have integrated into their communities and want nothing more than the opportunity to contribute fully to American society.

Read Rep. Salazar's full letter to Secretary Mullin here.

REP. SALAZAR'S LONGSTANDING EFFORTS TO SUPPORT CUBANS AND THOSE SEEKING FREEDOM

Rep. Salazar has long worked to address the challenges facing Cubans caught in legal limbo, particularly those issued I-220A and those affected by changes to humanitarian parole programs. 

Her position has remained consistent across administrations: individuals who were processed by the U.S. government, have no criminal record, and are seeking refuge from authoritarian regimes deserve fair treatment, due process, and the opportunity to pursue legal status under American law.

Some of her efforts include:

• January 2024: Led a bipartisan letter urging the Department of Homeland Security to grant parole-in-place to Cubans issued I-220A forms so they could pursue permanent residency under the Cuban Adjustment Act.
• January 2025: Urged DHS to continue protecting Cubans, Venezuelans, Nicaraguans, and Haitians with pending immigration cases and no criminal records from deportation following changes to the CHNV humanitarian parole program.
• April 2025: Urged the Administration to provide Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) protections for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans who entered the United States lawfully through humanitarian parole programs.
• March 2026: Requested that DHS resume citizenship processing and naturalization ceremonies for Cuban and Venezuelan applicants whose cases had experienced significant delays.
• Throughout her time in Congress, Rep. Salazar has met repeatedly with affected families, community leaders, immigration attorneys, and federal officials to advocate for Cubans with I-220A status and pursue both administrative and legislative solutions.
• Rep. Salazar is also the lead sponsor of the DIGNITY Act, which includes a provision to help Cubans issued I-220A move out of legal limbo and preserve their ability to pursue permanent residency under the Cuban Adjustment Act.

Rep. Salazar has consistently maintained that America can uphold the rule of law while remaining faithful to its historic commitment to those fleeing oppression and seeking freedom.