Cuban Immigrants Face โฃAccount โfreezes Due โฃto Banking and โtaxโค Complianceโ Checks
Cuban immigrants โin the โUnited Statesโฃ are reporting potential disruptions to their financial access as banks and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) โขincrease scrutiny of immigration and tax status.โ Bank ofโค America isโข notifying customers with โขcuban citizenship or residency about the need to update their immigration documentation, potentially leading to account freezes โขor โclosures. This stems โfrom federal โฃsanctions against Cuba โฃrequiring stricter banking controls.
According to reports from Univision News 23, the bank is requesting โupdated residence โinformation from clients whoseโฃ temporary documentation is nearing expiration.โข Immigration attorney jesรบs Novo explains that individuals can demonstrateโ valid status with documentation like asylum notifications,โฃ work permits, or pending residencyโข applications. However, thoseโ who entered under humanitarian parole withoutโข subsequently applying for โคasylum or initiating โคthe Cuban Adjustment Act process may face greater challenges.
One โคmigrant, speaking anonymouslyโค to Univision 23, described having their account โfrozen, preventing all transactions. Accessโ was only restored weeks later after providing proof of a โpending residency application under the โCubanโ Adjustment Act, allowing forโข a temporary extensionโ ofโฃ account use.
Separately, the IRS is issuing โขFinal Notices of Intent to Seize assets for unpaid taxes. ignoring these notices can result in the immediate freezing of bank accounts, wages, and โproperty. While funds aren’t automaticallyโ withdrawn, they become inaccessible โฃupon notification. The IRS provides a 21-day window to respond, negotiate a payment plan, or resolve the debt, with the possibility of releasing the โhold, โthough the underlying debt remains.
Novo advises those receiving theseโ notices toโฃ act promptly, providing copies of all relevant immigration and tax documentation, and avoiding the submission of โคoriginal documents.โ He stresses the importance of addressing โtheseโค issues โquickly to avoid prolonged financial disruption.
