Yamile Alcantu, a Cuban woman who arrived in the United States legally 25 years ago via the State Department’s Visa Lottery program, has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for eight months and now faces deportation to Cuba. Her long-term partner of nearly 20 years, Wayne DeMario, a Miami-Dade small business owner who runs Wayne’s Guitar World, has publicly shared his anguish over the situation.
Alcantu entered the U.S. with her family and built a life in Florida, contributing to her community and maintaining steady employment. However, a minor legal issue arose in 2008 during a traffic stop, when police discovered three Xanax pills in her purse. This led to a deportation order that year. For years afterward, she complied with annual ICE check-ins without incident, and the couple believed her status was stable, especially given her long residence and ties to the country.
In June 2025, during one of these routine check-ins in Miramar, Florida, ICE agents detained her. DeMario described the scene as traumatic: agents “grabbed her, put her in shackles and chains,” and he likened it to a kidnapping. She was initially held at a detention center in Jacksonville before being transferred to Louisiana. As of February 2026, she has not appeared before an immigration judge, and the couple fears imminent deportation to Cuba amid broader enforcement actions.
DeMario, a longtime Trump supporter who voted for him in the 2024 election—as did Alcantu, who reportedly prayed for his victory—expressed deep regret and frustration. He told local media he never anticipated this outcome, stating, “We didn’t think that he’d ever deport someone back to Cuba,” and “people say I voted for this… but I didn’t vote for THIS!” He has emphasized that the focus should be on what he sees as unfair treatment rather than his political past, and he launched a GoFundMe to cover legal fees in hopes of reuniting with her.
The case has drawn attention as an example of how intensified immigration enforcement can affect even those with deep U.S. roots and minor past infractions, highlighting personal consequences in a politically charged environment. DeMario continues to plead for her release, calling Alcantu “the sweetest person” who “does not deserve this.”
SOURCES:
Miami-Dade small business owner who voted for Trump feels pain of partner’s ICE detention
Trump Voter Regrets Ballot After Fiancée’s ICE Detention – NewsBreak
