A 62-year-old woman from Matanzas, Cuba, faces deportation charges after U.S. authorities discovered her concealed history with the Castro regime's judicial system.

According to Breitbart, Juana Orquídea Acanda Rodríguez was detained by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents at Miami International Airport on March 20 after attempting to enter the United States with an immigrant visa arranged by her U.S. citizen son.

The former Cuban judge is accused of deliberately withholding crucial information during her immigration process, particularly her affiliation with the Cuban Communist Party (PCC) and her extensive three-decade career within the Castro regime's judicial system.

Federal authorities have emphasized that this case represents a growing trend of former Cuban officials attempting to enter the United States after years of supporting the communist regime.

Growing pattern of Cuban officials seeking U.S. entry

The case has sparked concerns among federal authorities and the Cuban-American community about the increasing frequency of such incidents. Immigration officials have noted a surge in entry attempts by former Castro regime officials who previously held positions of power and influence.

A federal source close to the case revealed that many of these former officials are now trying to escape the very conditions they helped create in Cuba. The source highlighted the irony of regime supporters seeking refuge in a country they once criticized.

The independent Cuban outlet 14 y Medio discovered that Acanda Rodríguez had attempted to erase evidence of her communist past before traveling to the United States. However, local Cuban media coverage of her career revealed numerous accolades and recognition for her service to the regime.

Recognition and awards from Cuban communist regime

TV Yumuri, a state-media channel in Matanzas, reported that Acanda Rodríguez received the "Order of Judicial Merit" in December 2023. At the time of the award, she expressed deep gratitude and allegiance to the revolution.

A source familiar with the case told Cuban-American journalist Mario Pentón:

This is not an isolated case. There are more and more frequent attempts of entry by former officials who, after decades of supporting a repressive model, now seek to benefit from the freedoms of the country that for years they vilified from public office.

The Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba (FHRC) maintains documentation of over 1,000 verified Castro regime repressors. More than 115 of these individuals have reportedly entered the United States since February 2023 through various Biden administration immigration policies.

Recent actions against Cuban regime officials

In March, Representative Carlos Giménez requested that the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem initiate deportation proceedings against known Cuban repressors currently residing in the United States. The request has already shown results, with some individuals choosing to self-deport.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement recently detained another former regime official, 71-year-old Tomas Emilio Hernandez Cruz, who had fraudulently obtained permanent residence status. Like Acanda Rodríguez, he had concealed his communist party membership and high-level positions.

Legal proceedings and immigration consequences

Juana Orquídea Acanda Rodríguez's case exemplifies the complex challenges facing U.S. immigration authorities in screening Cuban immigrants with ties to the communist regime. Her detention at Miami International Airport occurred when she attempted to enter the country using an immigrant visa obtained through her U.S. citizen son. The former judge now faces deportation proceedings due to her failure to disclose her decades-long involvement with the Cuban Communist Party and her role in the Castro regime's judicial system. This case adds to the growing number of former Cuban officials discovered attempting to enter the United States while concealing their past ties to the communist government.