Trump Voter Regrets Ballot After Fiancée's ICE Detention

A small business owner in Florida says he will never vote Republican again after his Cuban fiancée was detained by immigration authorities.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Wayne DeMario, a small business owner in Miami-Dade County, Florida, started a GoFundMe to pay for legal fees after his partner of 20 years, Yamile Alcantu, was detained by ICE. Alcantu, who came to the U.S. legally from Cuba 25 years ago, was checking in with immigration authorities when she was 'kidnapped' and placed in shackles and chains, according to DeMario. DeMario, who voted for Trump in the 2024 election, now regrets his decision and says he will never vote Republican again.

Why it matters

This case highlights the impact of the Trump administration's aggressive immigration policies, which have led to the detention and deportation of many immigrants, including those with legal status. It also demonstrates the personal toll these policies can take on families and the potential for voter backlash against the Republican party.

The details

Alcantu received a deportation order in 2008 after police found three Xanax pills on her during a traffic stop. She has kept in regular contact with immigration authorities in an effort to fix her immigration status ever since. Until last year, that had never been an issue. However, during one of her routine check-ins with ICE, she was detained and placed in shackles and chains. DeMario says Alcantu has other minor criminal misdemeanors on her record from the early 2000s, but the Department of Homeland Security has her listed as 'the worst of the worst,' charged with 'dangerous drugs and drug possession.'

  • In July of last year, DeMario started a GoFundMe to pay for Alcantu's legal fees after she was detained by ICE.
  • Alcantu was checking in with ICE, as she had done annually for years prior, when she was detained.

The players

Wayne DeMario

A small business owner in Miami-Dade County, Florida, and the fiancé of Yamile Alcantu.

Yamile Alcantu

DeMario's partner of 20 years, who came to the U.S. legally from Cuba 25 years ago through the visa lottery system.

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States, whose aggressive immigration policies led to the detention of Alcantu.

Ron DeSantis

The governor of Florida, who has partnered with ICE in what he has termed 'Operation Tidal Wave,' leading to the arrest of more than 10,000 individuals in the state.

Kristi Noem

The former Secretary of Homeland Security under the Trump administration, who was working at 'turbo speed' to deliver on Trump's mass deportation plans.

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What they’re saying

“They grabbed her, put her in shackles and chains.”

— Wayne DeMario (Local10 News)

“I really thought this was just going to be something more organized, but it's obviously not. They just blanket everybody.”

— Wayne DeMario (Local10 News)

“I am no Trump supporter. I vote Republican. And I will never f---ing vote Republican again.”

— Wayne DeMario (Facebook)

“I'm sorry I voted for that a-hole. If people can't accept my apology, f--- them. And it's not about my life anyway, it's about hers.”

— Wayne DeMario (Facebook)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Yamile Alcantu out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the human toll of the Trump administration's aggressive immigration policies, which have led to the detention and deportation of many immigrants, including those with legal status. It also demonstrates the potential for voter backlash against the Republican party as a result of these policies.