A Florida judge granted political asylum to Cuban pilot Rubén Martínez Machado.
Martínez arrived in South Florida on October 21, having diverted a Russian fumigation plane owned by the Cuban government. Since then he has been held in an immigration detention center.
The immigration judge in the case accepted his request for political asylum based on credible fear.
Cuban pilot who diverted a plane to South Florida remains in prison without bail
“We won!!! They gave my client asylum and there was no appeal reservation, therefore the pilot stays here,” said his lawyer, Eduardo Soto.
The attorney had appealed an earlier court decision after a judge denied his client bail.
Florida media reported that Martínez will not be released today, Thursday, but that he will be granted it tomorrow, Friday morning.
News under construction…
