Rainel Pedroso/Cuba/Human Smuggling

On July 24, ICE New Orleans arrested Rainel Pedroso, a Cuban national with a felony conviction for human smuggling. Pedroso, who is illegally present in the United States, was previously convicted of transporting an undocumented alien for financial gain. He was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for the offense and was taken into custody by ICE officers following his release.

The conviction stems from a case in which Pedroso was apprehended while transporting a noncitizen who had illegally entered the country. Court records indicate that the transport was part of a for-profit smuggling operation that endangered the life of the individual involved. Human smuggling crimes often involve unsafe conditions and place those being transported at serious risk of harm or exploitation.

ICE officials in New Orleans identified Pedroso for enforcement due to his criminal conviction and immigration status. After verifying that Pedroso had no legal right to remain in the United States, he was arrested and placed into removal proceedings.

Pedroso is currently being held at an ICE detention facility where he will remain in custody pending the outcome of his immigration case. He faces removal to Cuba and is not eligible for release due to his felony conviction.