Title: Former Cuban Air Force Pilot Indicted for Immigration Fraud Under Cuban Adjustment Act
Date: April 16, 2024
A former Cuban Air Force pilot, Rubén Darío Alcantarilla Pérez, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on charges of immigration fraud. The indictment alleges that Alcantarilla Pérez made false statements to U.S. immigration authorities while seeking to adjust his status to a lawful permanent resident under the Cuban Adjustment Act (CAA).
According to the indictment, Alcantarilla Pérez, who served as a pilot in the Cuban Air Force (DAAFAR), is accused of deliberately concealing his military affiliation and role. Upon his arrival in the United States, he allegedly provided false information on official immigration forms and during interviews with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers. Specifically, he is charged with falsely denying any service or affiliation with a military unit of the Communist Party or a totalitarian party, a critical misrepresentation for obtaining legal status under the CAA.
The Cuban Adjustment Act, enacted in 1966, allows certain Cuban nationals who have been inspected and admitted or paroled into the United States, and who have been physically present in the U.S. for at least one year, to adjust their status to lawful permanent resident. However, the law explicitly requires honesty and full disclosure from applicants. The charges highlight the U.S. government's unwavering commitment to upholding the integrity of its immigration system and prosecuting individuals who attempt to circumvent legal requirements through deception.
The investigation leading to Alcantarilla Pérez's indictment was a collaborative effort between Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the USCIS Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate (FDNS). If convicted on the two counts of making false statements, Alcantarilla Pérez faces a maximum potential sentence of five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine for each count. This case serves as a stern reminder of the serious legal repercussions for individuals who provide false information to U.S. immigration officials.
The U.S. government emphasizes that all applicants for immigration benefits must provide accurate and truthful information. Deliberate misrepresentations not only constitute a criminal offense but also undermine the fairness and security of the entire immigration process. Authorities remain vigilant in identifying and prosecuting individuals who seek to exploit U.S. immigration laws through fraudulent means.
