MIAMI, United States (CMC) — The United States (US) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) says it has “administratively” arrested an alleged member of Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior, who has been residing illegally in the country.

ICE said it collaborated with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency in detaining Daniel Morejon Garcia, 57, who was taken into custody at his residence in southern Florida following an investigation conducted by ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

“The investigation centred on fraudulent claims he allegedly made when entering the country. During the investigation, law enforcement agents obtained official Cuban government documents and credible source information indicating that Morejon Garcia had failed to disclose his affiliations.

“He allegedly omitted being a member of the Cuban Communist Party and an agent of Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior in his immigration applications,” ICE said, adding that Morejon Garcia “allegedly served as the president of the National Defense Council in the Artemisa region of Cuba and being a member of the Rapid Response Brigades”.

“These groups, composed of civilians trained and organised by the government, are designed to assist authorities during incidents of social unrest, protests or disturbances,” ICE said.

It added that the authorities allege that Morejon Garcia was activated by the Cuban government during the islandwide protests on July 11, 2021 and “in that role, there was evidence of Morejon Garcia assaulting protesters as part of his duties”.

ICE said Morejon Garcia is currently in its custody pending his deportation to Cuba.