Federal authorities say they detained Cuban national Eledoro Valenzuela Rodriguez last month in Miami-Dade despite a final removal order from 1980. He faces charges including cocaine distribution and being a felon in possession of a firearm. ICE blamed lenient sentencing and sanctuary-city policies for repeated releases that allowed him to remain free and said it will continue enforcing immigration laws regardless of local politics.
ICE Detains Cuban National With 1980 Removal Order, Blames Sanctuary Policies For Repeated Releases
Eledoro Valenzuela Rodriguez, a Cuban national, had a final removal order in 1980 but remained in the U.S. after lenient sentences in New York and Maryland, according to ICE.(iStock)
Federal authorities said Tuesday that Eledoro Valenzuela Rodriguez, a Cuban national with a lengthy criminal history, was taken into federal custody last month at the Miami-Dade Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Rodriguez was awaiting trial on charges that include cocaine possession with intent to distribute, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and trespassing, according to federal officials.
ICE said Rodriguez has a final removal order dating to 1980 but remained in the United States after multiple releases over the years. The agency blamed what it described as "lenient sentences" and sanctuary-city policies in jurisdictions such as New York and Maryland for allowing him to avoid deportation and continue committing offenses.
ICE Director Todd Lyons: "Sanctuary policies protect criminals like Valenzuela Rodriguez and enable them to prey on generations of innocent Americans. They don’t make communities safer and complicate enforcement. ICE will continue to enforce the law, regardless of local politics."
Federal officials said Rodriguez "amassed numerous convictions and charges," including arrests for possession and distribution of controlled substances, marijuana possession, weapon offenses and unlawful firearm possession by a convicted felon. Despite that record, authorities say he was released from custody multiple times while living in sanctuary jurisdictions.
ICE did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment. It was not clear whether Rodriguez had retained an attorney following his latest arrest.
Background: The case highlights tensions between federal immigration enforcement and local sanctuary policies, with federal officials arguing those policies can impede deportation of individuals with criminal records.
Help us improve.
