A U.S. District Judge in Florida has ordered the release of a Cuban national, Miakel Guerra Morales, who was convicted of aircraft piracy, from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. The decision, handed down by Judge John E. Steele on July 8, found that the government had not shown a "significant likelihood" that Morales's removal from the United States could occur in the reasonably foreseeable future, despite ongoing deportation efforts.
"judicial interference with President Trump’s administration’s efforts to remove criminal illegal aliens from the United States." — Lauren Bis, DHS Acting Assistant Secretary
Morales, who served approximately two decades in prison for hijacking a passenger plane from Cuba to Florida in 2003, had been detained by ICE since December 2025. Immigration authorities sought to remove him following the completion of his 22-year sentence. Judge Steele, an appointee of former President Bill Clinton, stipulated that ICE could detain Morales again should the prospect of his deportation become more definite. Morales is currently believed to be residing in the Miami area as immigration authorities continue to address his removal status.
The incident for which Morales was convicted occurred on March 19, 2003. He was part of a group of at least a dozen Cuban nationals who boarded a commuter aircraft in Nueva Gerona, Cuba. Court records detail that the group utilized weapons and threats to seize control of the aircraft, assaulting crew members and compelling the pilot to divert the flight to Key West, Florida. Morales was subsequently convicted of aircraft piracy and conspiracy to interfere with a flight crew. He served roughly 20 years of his sentence before entering immigration proceedings.
Upon completing his prison term, Morales was placed into removal proceedings. An immigration judge issued a removal order but also granted him protection under the Convention Against Torture, which effectively delayed his return to Cuba. ICE initially placed him under supervision before taking him back into custody in December 2025, with the stated intention of pursuing his removal to Mexico.
In his ruling, Judge Steele highlighted the duration of the government's efforts, noting that more than three years had passed since Morales received his initial removal order and over six months since his latest detention. The judge concluded that federal immigration authorities had not demonstrated that they had secured the necessary travel documents or obtained confirmation from another country, such as Mexico, that it would accept Morales. Steele emphasized that the government cannot hold individuals indefinitely when deportation efforts have not progressed meaningfully.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has voiced strong criticism of the ruling. DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis stated that the decision compelled ICE to release an individual convicted of a serious violent crime. Bis characterized the case as an instance of what she described as "judicial interference with President Trump's administration’s efforts to remove criminal illegal aliens from the United States." DHS affirmed its commitment to continue pursuing the detention and removal of individuals with criminal convictions who are subject to deportation.
Conversely, supporters of the court’s decision argue that immigration detention must adhere to established legal requirements, asserting that the government is not permitted to hold individuals indefinitely when their removal is uncertain. They point out that the judge’s order maintains a level of monitoring for Morales while removal efforts persist and does not preclude future detention if deportation becomes reasonably likely.
This case underscores a persistent challenge within the U.S. immigration system, particularly concerning certain Cuban nationals who have received removal orders but are difficult to deport due to ongoing diplomatic disputes and complexities regarding Cuba’s acceptance of specific deportees. While some deportation cooperation between the United States and Cuba has resumed, the process remains contingent on diplomatic agreements and individual circumstances, often leading to protracted legal and administrative processes.
