Green Card Fraud: Cuban Spy Deported After LPR Status Revoked
A 61-year-old Cuban national lived in Kendall, Florida with a green card for years. Then investigators found out how he got it. On August 7, 2026, ICE deported Fernando Armando Valdes Perez after determining he had hidden his work as a Cuban intelligence spy when he applied for lawful permanent resident status — a case that shows green card fraud can catch up with someone decades later.
What if you obtained your green card years ago — but hid something serious on your application? That is exactly the situation that led to the deportation of a 61-year-old Cuban national from Miami on August 7, 2026. Fernando Armando Valdes Perez, a resident of Kendall, Florida, was removed from the United States after investigators determined he had concealed his ties to Cuban intelligence when he applied for lawful permanent resident (LPR) status — a green card.
What happened and why it matters for green card holders
ICE, the FBI Miami field office, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection arrested Valdes on July 10 at Miami International Airport. Investigators concluded he had worked as a Cuban intelligence asset since at least the mid-1990s, tasked with infiltrating Cuban exile and dissident communities in Latin America and the United States. According to ICE, Valdes deliberately hid this affiliation when he applied for and received his green card — a move federal law treats as immigration fraud. After his arrest, he was placed in removal proceedings and deported less than a month later, on August 7.
Deportation Defense Checklist — Free
Immigrant rights, appeals and protective measures
ERO Miami Field Office Director Matthew Elliston stated: "Individuals who conceal ties to foreign intelligence services and exploit our immigration system pose a serious threat to the integrity of that system and to our national security." The case is a reminder that USCIS and ICE can revisit how a green card was obtained — even years after it was granted — if evidence of fraud surfaces. Concealing material facts on an immigration application can lead to revocation of LPR status and removal proceedings, regardless of how long someone has lived in the United States.
For most green card holders, this case is not a direct threat. But it highlights a real legal risk: if you omitted or misrepresented information on your original green card application — even something that seemed minor at the time — that record can be used against you later. Immigration fraud is a permanent bar to most future immigration benefits and can trigger deportation at any point.
What to do
- If you believe there is any inaccuracy or omission in your past immigration filings, speak with an immigration attorney before ICE or USCIS contacts you. Voluntary disclosure handled by a lawyer is very different from being caught.
- If you receive a Notice to Appear (NTA) — the document that starts removal proceedings — you have the right to appear before an immigration judge. Do not ignore it. Missing your hearing almost always results in an automatic removal order.
- If you are placed in removal proceedings and want to appeal a removal order, the deadline to file an appeal with the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) is 30 days from the date of the order.
- If you need more time to prepare your case, a motion to reopen removal proceedings must be filed within 90 days of the final removal order. An immigration lawyer can help you determine whether you qualify.
What to do, step by step — see our guide “Your Rights During an ICE Encounter”.
Fishkin Law Firm, New York
This case is a clear example of how material misrepresentation on an immigration application — hiding affiliations, criminal history, or prior immigration violations — can void a green card no matter how long ago it was granted. Under INA Section 237(a)(1)(A), a green card obtained through fraud is grounds for removal at any time. If you are in removal proceedings, you have the right to a hearing before an immigration judge, and you can appeal a removal order to the BIA within 30 days of the decision. Anyone who suspects their past filings contain errors or omissions should consult an immigration attorney before the government raises the issue first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can ICE deport someone who has had a green card for many years?
Yes. If investigators find that a green card was obtained through fraud — such as hiding ties to a foreign government — ICE can place that person in removal proceedings and seek deportation, regardless of how long they have held LPR status.
What happens after ICE arrests someone on immigration fraud charges?
The person is typically processed and placed in removal proceedings before an immigration judge. In this case, Valdes was arrested on July 10 and deported on August 7 — less than 30 days later.
What is the deadline to appeal a removal order?
You have 30 days from the date of the removal order to file an appeal with the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). Missing this deadline makes the removal order final.
What counts as immigration fraud on a green card application?
Knowingly hiding or misrepresenting any material fact — such as affiliations with a foreign government, prior criminal history, or past immigration violations — when applying for a green card is considered fraud under U.S. immigration law. It can lead to revocation of LPR status and deportation.