Кубинский блогер рассказал, как его камермэн избежал ареста у границ США благодаря статусу постоянного жителя

Kristoff Kriollo, a well-known Cuban influencer, recently shared a video on his YouTube channel detailing a nerve-wracking encounter with U.S. Border Patrol agents while filming with his cameraman Leonis in the Florida Keys. The situation nearly escalated to the arrest of his companion. This unsettling event took place on the second day of their visit to Key West. Initially mistaking the agents for ICE, Kriollo later corrected himself: "Today ICE stopped us. But it's not ICE; they're another entity similar to ICE, called Border Patrol. Both are very much alike as they both address illegal immigration in the U.S., and we experienced quite the scare." Recognition Through Otaola and Quick Resolution Kristoff, being a permanent resident of the United States, resolved the situation swiftly. However, he confessed to a potentially costly oversight: "The agent said, 'I know you’re a resident.' I handed over my license. In fact, my green card, my residency card, was lost." One of the agents recognized him and jested about his connection to Alexander Otaola, a prominent figure within the Cuban exile community in Miami, which helped defuse the situation. The Tense Moment: Leonis' I-220A Status The critical moment of the encounter revolved around the immigration status of his cameraman. Leonis holds an I-220A form—an order of supervision that doesn’t equate to a final immigration status nor does it protect against further detention—and lacks a court date in his immigration process. Kristoff recounted that the agent was straightforward: "The agent asked, 'I'm not asking if you have a work permit. I'm asking about your status. I-220A, what are you?' and Leonis responded, 'Yes, I am I-220A.'" What followed was alarming: "The agent asked if he had a court date, and Leonis said he did not. The agent told him that typically he would have to take him in because he had no court date." Agent's Discretion Prevents Arrest Fortunately, Leonis was not detained. The officer exercised discretion and chose not to take further action, for which Kristoff publicly expressed his gratitude: "If by any chance the officer who stopped us sees this, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you for the favor, because, well, you're doing your job. It might seem trivial, but it could have changed many lives." This outcome contrasts with other recent cases of Cubans with I-220A being detained in the Keys, where local Key West police renewed their cooperation agreement with ICE in July 2025. A Warning to Undocumented Individuals Following the scare, Kristoff issued a stark warning: "I advise all undocumented people not to come to the Keys for anything because it's a hotbed here. If you don't have papers, don't come here to do anything at all. We had quite a scare." He expressed a nuanced view on the operations: "I don’t agree with these arrests, honestly," but he added that those with criminal records should face consequences, admitting, "I don't feel I have the authority to criticize or attack that entity." The pressure is mounting as ICE broke its monthly record in July 2026 with 49,571 arrests, and the detention of Cubans surged by 463% from October 2024 to January 2026. "It's All the Cuban Dictatorship's Fault" Kristoff concluded with a strong statement, pointing to the underlying cause: "Half of my family is I-220A. I wouldn’t want anything to happen," he confessed, before asserting, "Before all of that, I blame the Cuban dictatorship, because it’s their fault we’re here. It’s their fault we’re going through these scares, these processes, starting from scratch, leaving a country, undertaking journeys. It’s all the Cuban dictatorship’s fault. Before any party, before anything in the United States, that’s how I see it." The influencer also announced plans to share a petition in the first comment of his video to apply the Cuban Adjustment Act to individuals with I-220A, a document that leaves thousands of Cubans in legal limbo without a court date or definite immigration status. Understanding I-220A Status and Its Implications What is an I-220A form? An I-220A form is an order of supervision given to certain immigrants, allowing them to remain in the U.S. under specific conditions. It does not provide a final immigration status or protect against future detentions. Why was Leonis nearly detained by Border Patrol? Leonis, holding an I-220A form, lacked a court date, which typically would result in detention by Border Patrol. However, the agent exercised discretion and did not detain him. How did Kristoff Kriollo's residency status affect the situation? Kristoff Kriollo's status as a permanent resident in the U.S. helped resolve the situation quickly, as the agent recognized his residency and did not pursue further action against him.