Justo B.: Cuban man denied insulin by ICE suffers strokes during 7-month detention
Justo Betancourt, 54, a Cuban immigrant with lawful status, suffered strokes and a diabetic coma during seven months at a Florida detention facility. A judge ordered him freed in May.
May 15, 2026Miami, FLCountry of origin: Cuba

Justo Betancourt, a 54-year-old Cuban national who entered the U.S. in 1990 and held lawful status, was detained by ICE on October 29, 2025, during a routine annual immigration check-in. He was held for roughly seven months at the South Florida Detention Facility, known as Alligator Alcatraz, despite being unable to be readily deported to Cuba. During detention he was shackled up to 23 hours a day and denied adequate care for his diabetes, neuropathy, and heart conditions, leading to strokes, cardiac arrest, a diabetic coma from withheld insulin, significant weight loss, and lasting neurological damage including tremors and mobility impairment. His daughter Arianne organized weekly vigils outside the facility for 44 weeks advocating for his release. U.S. District Judge Kyle Dudek granted his habeas corpus petition on May 13, 2026, finding the detention erroneous and unlawful, and ordered his release within 48 hours; Betancourt was freed on May 14-15, 2026.
Timeline
Tags
Sources
- Trump welcomes release of Alligator Alcatraz detainee Justo Betancourt
Newsweek·Jun 1, 2026·archived copy
- CBS News
- Cuban is released after six months in Alligator Alcatraz: "They chained him for up to 23 hours a day."
CiberCuba·May 16, 2026·archived copy
- ‘It feels like a mockery’: Justo Betancourt, a former detainee at Alligator Alcatraz who received a congratulations note from Trump
El País·Jun 4, 2026·archived copy
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- Trump celebrates release of Cuban man from months in detention at Alligator Alcatraz
The Independent·Jun 1, 2026·archived copy
- Seattle Times
- Florida sheriffs criticize federal mass deportation efforts
WLRN·Mar 17, 2026·archived copy
- Cuban family left baffled after being mentioned by Trump on social media
CiberCuba·Jun 2, 2026·archived copy
- Cuban Man Freed After Six Months in Alligator Alcatraz: A Story of Chains and Injustice
Cuba Headlines·May 16, 2026·archived copy
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
- Miami Herald
- Trump sends a message to man who won his freedom from Alligator Alcatraz
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