Green Card Revoked: ICE Arrests Cuban Resident in Miami
Adys Lastres Morera had a green card and had lived in the US since 2023. On May 20, 2026, the US government revoked it — and two days later, ICE arrested her in Miami. Her case shows that even lawful permanent residents can lose their status and face deportation, sometimes with very little warning.
Green Card Holder Arrested Days After Status Was Revoked
On May 22, 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Adys Lastres Morera in Miami. She had been a lawful permanent resident — meaning she held a green card — since January 13, 2023. Just two days before her arrest, on May 20, 2026, the U.S. Department of State revoked her green card and declared her removable from the United States. She is now in ICE custody and faces removal proceedings — the formal legal process to deport someone from the US.
The government says her presence violates Section 237(a)(4)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), a law that allows the US to remove a green card holder whose presence causes serious harm to American foreign policy. The State Department, led by Secretary Marco Rubio, determined that allowing her to stay would undermine US efforts against the Cuban government. Her sister, Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera, is the executive president of GAESA — a Cuban military-controlled company that controls roughly 70% of Cuba's economy and is accused of holding more than $20 billion in illicit assets overseas.
Deportation Defense Checklist — Free
Immigrant rights, appeals and protective measures
HSI Acting Executive Associate Director John Condon stated that GAESA's revenues — which total more than three times Cuba's government budget — benefit only corrupt elites while ordinary Cubans suffer. The US government noted it found no record that Adys Lastres Morera had applied for US citizenship or a US passport during her time in the country. Her arrest came just days after the Department of Justice unsealed a superseding indictment charging Raul Castro with murdering four people in 1996.
What This Means for Green Card Holders
This case is a reminder that a green card does not guarantee permanent protection from deportation. The US government can begin removal proceedings against a lawful permanent resident if it believes their presence violates the INA — including on foreign policy grounds. Once placed in removal proceedings, a person has the right to appear before an immigration judge and present a defense. The deadline to appeal an immigration judge's removal order is 30 days from the date of the order.
What to Do If You or Someone You Know Faces Removal Proceedings
- Do not ignore any court notices. If you receive a notice to appear in immigration court, you must show up. Missing your hearing can result in an automatic removal order against you.
- Contact an immigration lawyer immediately. Green card holders in removal proceedings have the right to hire an attorney. Lawyers recommend acting fast — you have only 30 days to appeal a removal order after an immigration judge issues it.
- Ask about a Stay of Deportation. If you are at risk of being removed before your case is resolved, your lawyer may file Form I-246 (a request to pause your deportation, called a Stay of Deportation). The filing fee is $155.
- Gather documents that support your case. This includes proof of your ties to the US — family members, employment, tax records, and any evidence that removal would cause serious hardship.
Fishkin Law Firm, New York
Green card holders can be placed in removal proceedings under foreign policy grounds — a rarely used but powerful provision of the INA that gives the government broad discretion. If you are arrested by ICE, you have the right to remain silent and the right to contact an attorney before answering questions; use both. Anyone in removal proceedings should also ask their attorney about filing Form I-246 to request a Stay of Deportation, which costs $155 and may pause removal while the case is reviewed. Consult an immigration attorney as soon as possible — the earlier you act, the more options you have.