Translating Cuba

One of the Authors of the Grammy Winning Cuban Protest Anthem ‘Homeland and Life’ Receives a Deportation Order From the US

“My life is in danger in Cuba,” says Eliexer Márquez “El Funky.”

“I have 30 days to leave the country or I’ll be deported,” El Funky wrote on social media. / Facebook/El Funky.

14ymedio, Luz Escobar / Yaiza Santos, Madrid, 9 May 2025 — Eliexer Márquez “El Funky,” one of the authors of Patria y Vida, the anthem of the 11 July 2021 protests, winner of two Grammy Awards, persecuted in Cuba for his dissenting songs, and exiled in the United States for three and a half years, has a deportation order. He announced it himself on Thursday, with three lines posted on his Facebook wall

“I have 30 days to leave the country or I will be deported,” the rapper wrote, while asking for support “from all my Cuban brothers and sisters who know about my anti-communist history and from the members of Congress of this country.” As he explained to 14ymedio by phone, the US denied him residency due to the one-year-and-three-month prison sentence he served on the island for marijuana possession more than eight years ago.

He never concealed this background from the US authorities, and they requested more details about it while he was processing his permanent residency under the Cuban Adjustment Act. This, he admits, was a mistake. “I should have requested political asylum upon arrival, but I trusted the lawyer they assigned me,” says El Funky about the lawyer recommended to him by his colleague and co-author of Patria y Vida, Yotuel Romero. The man was a well-established professional, he says, but he always disagreed with him.

“I always told him: Brother, my case is for political asylum, but he insisted on the Adjustment Act.”

“I always told him: ‘Brother, my case is for political asylum,’ but he insisted on the Adjustment Act.” The lawyer’s decision was not without logic. Since its passage in 1996, this law has been the fastest way for Cubans to obtain permanent residency in the United States—between 10 and 35 months, compared to the several years it can take to be granted asylum. With an added advantage: it allows them to return to Cuba, something that is prohibited for political asylum seekers, under penalty of losing their status and, therefore, their residency.

But traveling to the island isn’t something El Funky can contemplate. “It would be suicide to return; my life is worthless in Cuba, everyone who continue reading

knows my career knows that,” says the musician, who arrived in the United States in November 2021 with a special invitation to the Latin Grammy Awards, where Patria y Vida was crowned Best Song of the Year and Best Urban Song.

“There were two six-month visas, one for me and one for Maykel. They didn’t let Maykel out, but they did let me out,” he says, referring to his friend Maykel Castillo ‘Osorbo’, who at that time had already been in prison for six months and who would end up being sentenced to nine years in prison, a sentence he is still serving in Pinar del Río.

“My departure was practically an exile; those people took me to the airport.”

El Funky continues, alluding to State Security: “My departure was practically an exile; those people took me to the airport.” With threats disguised as congratulations: “Have a good trip, but don’t come back just yet. You know we can give you a sentence that you can serve for up to 20 years.”

After Patria y Vida was released in February 2021 and immediately became a social phenomenon, the regime’s siege against El Funky and Osorbo, the authors who lived on the island – and also Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, leader of the San Isidro Movement, who also appeared in the video clip – intensified. El Funky, in particular, was arrested on several occasions, and on one of them, precautionary measures were imposed on him to restrict his freedom of movement .

For all these reasons, he sees the regime’s hand in denying his residency: “I’m absolutely sure.” The reason he gives is that the criminal record that arrived from the island, with the sentence completed in 2017, no longer stated “possession” but “drug trafficking.” The sentence, El Funky points out, “makes it very clear: it was for half a marijuana cigarette. I served one year and three months, and trafficking in Cuba is punishable by five to ten years. You realize that a crime was fabricated there, especially in a case like mine.”

The rapper asserts that this was also fabricated. “In 2016, I was already making protest music with Maykel,” he recalls. “Maykel had already been imprisoned because he had made a song against Fidel [Por ti, señor]. In the sentence, you can read the neighbors’ opinions: my good behavior, that I wasn’t a criminal, that I’d never had any problems in the neighborhood, but nothing. They had to find a way to get me out of line.”

He is confident that his new lawyer can resolve his case so that he won’t be deported.

He understands, of course, that the United States, based on his drug convictions, treats him “like a criminal,” but he is confident his new lawyer can resolve his case so he won’t be deported. “They’re taking away a case I served in Cuba, and it’s known that that dictatorship expelled me for all my actions and activism. You have to realize that this is something fabricated by the dictatorship,” he insists. “My life is in danger in Cuba.”

The artist claims he never delayed completing any immigration procedures in the United States to update his status. “Since I arrived, I started working with that lawyer, but everything kept getting delayed.” That same year, he says, they conducted the interview and began asking for more documents.

He also details his life in Miami, more as Eliexer Márquez than El Funky, working as a maintenance man at an elementary school ten minutes from his home. “I’m the head of a family, married to an American citizen who has a daughter. I have a work permit, social security, a driver’s license, all my papers are up to date, none of them expired. I have no criminal record here, I’ve never committed a single offense, not a traffic violation or anything, I’m clean. In fact, for my job at the school, with children, which is extremely sensitive, they had to conduct an in-depth investigation to find out who I was.”

Caught between a dictatorship that would immediately imprison him and a legalistic society more xenophobic than ever, Márquez’s case is reminiscent of the “Scum of the Earth” of 1940s Europe, as defined by Arthur Koestler: persecuted in Germany by Jews and in France for missing a role. Far from music or the stage, however, his lyrics in Patria y Vida continue to resonate: “You are no longer necessary, you have nothing left, you are already going down, the people are tired of enduring, we are waiting for a new dawn.”
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When Propaganda Collides With Freedom

The Con Filo presenter’s visit to Spanish cities has sparked criticism, ridicule, and a necessary consensus among Cuban exiles.

As a history graduate, Fernández should understand that the regime’s setups will never have the weight of a rebellion. / Con Filo

14ymedio, Yunior García Aguilera, Madrid, 10 May 2025 — Since Gabriela Fernández Álvarez—a propagandist for the Cuban regime—began her tour of 12 Spanish cities, her rejection by her exiled compatriots has been clear. But the mediocrity of the official discourse, the inconsistencies of its spokesperson, her lies about the country’s reality, as well as the precariousness of her communication skills, have also been clear.

The organizers and funders of the trip—the State Movement of Solidarity with Cuba—have opted to prohibit Cubans from attending the talks (except for Embassy staff). They are fully aware of the antipathy generated by the television program Con Filo, both on and off the island. This is the first indication of the anti-Cuban nature of these meetings, which demonstrate that the “solidarity” of those organizing them is not with the Cuban people, but exclusively with the ideology that holds power.

Multiple memes about Fernández’s gaffes are circulating on social media, where she says “venemos” instead of “venimos” and claims that Latin America is “one country.” It was already evident—thanks to the videos published by her team—that the presenter is incapable of delivering a complete sentence without having to cut herself short, due to diction errors and difficulty memorizing the script. It’s clear that she wasn’t selected for her talents as a broadcaster, but for her loyalty to a small group of disciples of Iroel Sánchez, the well-known official censor who died two years ago. continue reading

Con Filo did not emerge spontaneously from those young people, its true creator was Iroel Sánchez

The idea for the program didn’t even come spontaneously from those young people. Its true creator was Sánchez, described by his own compañeros as an “extremist” and leader of the faction known as “the Taliban.”

Even singer-songwriter Silvio Rodríguez, during a meeting we held at the Ojalá studios after the 11 July 2021 protests—recorded at his request—acknowledged that Sánchez was “part of a sect that shut everything out.”

The troubadour recounted: “When Guillermo Rodríguez Rivera made a proposal for consumer rights on my blog, Díaz-Canel—who wasn’t president at the time or anything like that—summoned Guillermo, [Víctor] Casaus, Vicente [Feliú], and me to the Palace. And the person they put in front of me was Iroel. The moment I saw that, I said: ’this is bad.’ And indeed… Two or three meetings were held, and nothing moved forward, because it was all about: ’the blockade,’ ’the enemy’… and all that nonsense.”

The 2009 anecdote about the confrontation between Sánchez and the then Minister of Culture, Abel Prieto, is famous. Witnesses say Iroel banged his desk several times, received a public reprimand, and produced a pamphlet accusing Prieto of being “lacking in ideology.” He was dismissed from the Cuban Book Institute, although he was later protected by Ramiro Valdés, which allowed him to return to the circles of power.

The propagandist has also tried to downplay what happened on 11 July 2021.

In her second talk in Spain, the young “iroelista” attempted to distort the meaning of the artists’ protest in front of the Ministry of Culture on 27 November 2020. She forgets that, beyond our naiveté, that was an action in solidarity with the San Isidro Movement and in open opposition to official policy. Only the coincidence of the date with the execution of the eight medical students in 1871 prevented us from being beaten by the rapid response brigades already deployed in the surrounding area. Despite this, there was no shortage of pepper spray, threats, and subsequent interrogations.

In her catalog of complaints, Fernández also criticizes the international press for ignoring the counter-demonstration organized by student groups subordinate to the Union of Young Communists, two days after November 27th. Known as “the Trillo Park brawl,” that supposedly spontaneous platform was provided with logistical resources, transportation, audio equipment, and a “surprise visit” from President Miguel Díaz-Canel, which refutes any narrative of spontaneity.

The propagandist has also attempted to downplay the events of 11 July 2021, questioning why the largest social uprising in more than six decades has had more visibility than the May Day parade. As a history graduate, she should understand that the events of totalitarian regimes will never have the historical weight of a genuine rebellion. Going out to protest—risking your freedom and your life—against a repressive government will always be more memorable than attending a mandatory march where your workplace or school takes roll call.

The spokesperson’s tour continues. The money invested could easily have been used to send food or medicine to Cuba, but those nostalgic for totalitarianism prefer to fund propaganda. At each talk, she will find an audience willing to excuse her mistakes, in the name of Castro or Stalin, but she will also encounter an emigrant community that, in a free country, enjoys the right to dissent and protest.

If this worn-out initiative has achieved anything positive, it has been to unite diverse sectors of the Cuban exile community who, without renouncing their differences, have managed to aim their arrows in the same direction.

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Last Year’s “Frenetic Fishing” Leads to Shortages in Cuba’s Largest Reservoir

The fish hide from the boats and are nervous all the time.

Meeting the goal is difficult, not only because of the lack of fish but also because of the condition of the boats / Escambray

14ymedio, Havana, May 7, 2025 — A year ago, the official press celebrated that fish from the Zaza reservoir in Sancti Spíritus could be “caught by hand” thanks to drought. Escambray had to confirm, this Tuesday, what 14ymedio warned about at the time: the frantic fishing that ensued made the fish suspicious, scarce and afraid to come to the surface.

Escambray uses the Creole term ’huyuyo’ to refer to fish. It means that the animal not only tends to run away from light but also is always nervous. Zaza fishermen had a 914 ton plan in 2024 for the first quarter of the year. Given the conditions of the reservoir, only 658 tons were caught.

The newspaper has a bad memory. It says it doesn’t understand why, if last year “closed with good productive results,” now the numbers do not add up. Escambray itself was the first to admit, in May 2024, that the largest reservoir of Cuba “was dying” and that, in order not to lose food, the continue reading

cooperatives had to launch themselves into the water to fish all they could. Acopio’s trucks were even waiting for them on the shore.

Now, to the drought – environmental conditions have not changed – is added what the newspaper calls “the low manifestation of species,” a euphemism that has led to the creation of brigades with a special craft: the “tracking” of fish.

The job of these fishermen is to “track them down to the last speck of water in Zaza and other reservoirs”

The work of these fishermen is to “track them down to the last speck of water in Zaza and other reservoirs.” Virtually all those engaged in this work in the area – about 13 brigades – are involved, and they claim that with their search techniques they will be able to meet the 3,035 tons per year in the plan, 28 tons more than required in 2024.

Meeting the target is difficult, not only because of the lack of fish but also because of the condition of the boats. Last year there was already a complaint that the boats were precarious and that there was no way to repair them. Now, the bureaucrats at the Sancti Spíritus Fishing Company recognize that the picture is much worse.

There is talk of the breakdown not only of boats but also of tractors carrying cargo. The targeted strategy affects the wellbeing of the fisherman: he was ordered to “recover fishing days”; that is, work longer and place two brigades of fishermen on the same boat, another point of conflict. In addition, “there is a shortage of oil, spare parts and other resources.”

As if the situation weren’t difficult enough, this year an invasive plant that “covers a large part” of the reservoir has been reported. However, Escambray does not say which plant it is.

A year ago, the authorities admitted that of the 1,020 million cubic metres of water that Zaza could hold, it had only 132,600, 13% of its capacity. The number was enough to make one scream out loud, but the reaction – in a moment of extreme shortage – was to fish as much as possible before the fish died. Then, it was enough to stretch out a hand; there was no need to throw in a hook or use a net. The term that became fashionable then in the newspaper was “accelerated fishing,” and it applauded the benefits it would bring to food production in the province.

Silence about the drought cost Zaza dearly. In 2023, fishermen warned that the fish were not developing properly and that catching them early would have a strong environmental impact.

At that time, the reservoir was facing dirt and excess vegetation, although provincial managers assured they had cleaned 13.5 hectares thanks to a fuel supply for this purpose.

The Zaza reservoir was created in 1975, and, according to the official encyclopedia Ecured, 264,000 people live around it, including an area of Villa Clara. Their livelihood depends largely on the reservoir.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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Bahamas Says It Will Directly Pay Cuban Doctors Working on Missions There

The Bahamian prime minister says he will renegotiate his labor agreements with Havana

Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis in a file photo. / EFE

14ymedio, Madrid, May 8, 2025 – The meeting on Tuesday in Washington between Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis and senior U.S. officials to discuss the hiring of Cuban doctors bore fruit the following day. This Wednesday, local media reported, Davis declared that his government would renegotiate its labor agreements with Havana and, from now on, would pay all health workers on the island directly.

“We were able to communicate to them, and I think they were satisfied, that we are not involved in any forced labor that we are aware of,” Davis told reporters upon arrival at Nassau Airport, referring to his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio the previous day.

The prime minister reiterated the idea—“If forced labor is occurring in our country with Cubans, we have no record of it”—and asserted: “What we are doing now, what we have been doing in recent weeks, is identifying what I call elements of forced labor to see if any of them are present in relation to any of the workers here in the Bahamas. If we discover anything like that, it will be corrected.”

These “elements of forced labor” can be various, he said, for example, “sharing an employee’s salary with the Government.”

These “elements of forced labor” can be various, he said, for example, “sharing an employee’s salary with the government,” referring to the portion of doctors’ salaries that goes not to the worker but to the Cuban state. However, he argued that this “concept is not unknown.”

He referred to the program through which Bahamian farmers were employed as seasonal workers in the United States—known as the Indenture—which was in place from the 1940s until the Bahamas gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1973. He noted that part of the payment was made to the British government and part to the workers. He said: “That’s not an unknown concept or construct. But it’s now considered an ingredient of forced labor. So, we’ll address that. Anyone we hire, we’ll say, ’Look, we’ll pay you directly into your account.’” continue reading

What Davis did not answer, The Nassau Guardian reports , is whether he would make public the contract signed with Havana, revealed in part by Archivo Cuba last month in a devastating report . According to the investigation by this US-based organization, health workers employed in the Bahamian archipelago receive only between 8% and 16% of what they pay the Cuban regime ($990 or $1,200 a month, depending on their position, compared to the $5,000 or $12,000, respectively, that the Bahamas pays each one).

“What I can tell you is that we are in the process of renegotiating all these memoranda of understanding for labor outside of Cuba, just as we are doing with other countries like the Philippines, where we have several foreign workers,” the prime minister said.

Marco Rubio was asked whether Caribbean governments should refrain from hiring Cuban workers, and the Secretary of State replied that they should not.

Davis also recounted that they asked Marco Rubio if Caribbean governments should refrain from hiring Cuban workers, and the Secretary of State responded that no, they should simply ensure the employees were not subjected to forced labor.

Davis himself defended himself last March against US accusations regarding the medical missions , asserting that the country’s laws and Constitution prohibit involvement in human trafficking and that his government “will never engage in forced labor.”

At the end of February, the United States announced that it would not issue visas to Cubans or foreigners involved in the export of labor from the island, especially doctors, which numerous international organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Prisoners Defenders have been denouncing for years. The Cuban regime reacted not only to this decision, calling it “coercive” and arguing that it was based on “falsehoods,” but also to foreign governments.

Caricom President and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley even stated that she was “prepared,” like other leaders in the region, to lose her US visa if a “sensible agreement” on the matter was not reached, as “principles matter.”

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Moskvitch Taxis Sent by Russia to Cuba Will Compete With the Soviet-Era Ones

Moscow is considering sending 50 vehicles, 25 of which are the Moskvitch 3 fuel-powered models and another 25 Moskvitch 3e, which are fully electric.

Miguel Díaz-Canel, with the mayor of Moscow, trying out one of the Moskvitch models coming from Russia to Cuba. / Granma

14ymedio, Havana, 8 May 2025 — The last century uncomfortable Moskvitches which privately carry passengers around in Havana will soon have new competitors: Russian vehicles of the same make, but many years younger, sent by Russia. At least, that’s what Moscow’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, promised Miguel Díaz-Canel when he visited their car factory this week.

Last April, the Russian deputy prime minister, Dimitri Chernyshenko, promised the government it would help revive its worn-out public transport, and said, without the press revealing any details, they would send a fleet of Moskvitches. Now, Díaz-Canel went in person to review the deal which, as revealed by the Moscow mayor, intends delivering an initial consignment.

To start off, the mayor told the Cuban premier, they are talking about sending 50 vehicles, 25 petrol Moskvitch 3’s, and 25 completely electric Moskvtich 3e’s.

From sending them to maintaining them, installing the charging infrastructure, training the mechanics and drivers – first in Russia and later locally – all at the expense of the Kremlin, which has created a joint company with the island to manage the taxi fleet. In view of the inability of the Cuban economy to keep even its own fleet going, it will be Russia which continue reading

guarantees “the uninterrupted working of the electric vehicles”.

“I hope these cars will grace the streets of Havana and make it more comfortable to move around your wonderful city”

In the future, the mayor said, I hope that the number of Moskvitches – which will be added to the depleted Cuban fleet – will be able to serve most of Havana’s population and the 150,000 Russian tourists who visit the capital on routes between Havana and Varadero.

“I hope these cars will grace the streets of Havana and make it more comfortable to move around your wonderful city,” Sobyanin said.

Modern, spacious and brightly coloured, the new Moskvitches have little in common with those still in circulation on the island, relics of the Soviet subsidy era. The fact that it is Russia that provides them out of its political interest in Cuba, and with hardly any benefits in return, is the real point in common between the old and the new vehicles.

Díaz-Canel himself acknowledged the widespread use of Moskvitches in the country, especially from the 60s to the 90s, although they have been getting fewer due to the lack of parts to repair them and the obsolescence that comes with decades of use and their poor gas mileage.

“The employees of this plant can be proud of the high quality of their products, as these old cars from that era are still on the streets of Cuba. This is due, of course, to the high build quality and to the creativity and ingenuity of the Cuban mechanics,” he said.

The president himself left the factory with a gift that would make many Cubans jump for joy: a gift voucher for 10 Moskvitch 6’s.

In terms of transport, Cuba depends almost exclusively on what other countries are able to give away and on companies willing to import vehicles. The total lack of money and resources is shown by the new process introduced by Salud Pública and MVC Comercial, an importer of vehicles for both state and private companies.

Months ago, the press announced that the institution would start renting MVC’s imported German Mercedes-Benz ambulances instead of acquiring its own transport. Some 60 days after putting the service to the test, Granma reports that the results are promising: the response time of the emergency system, for example, has been reduced from an outrageous 31 minutes in 2024 to 18 in the last two months, and emergency services from 43 to 16.

According to this management model, it is the drivers who are responsible for the condition of the ambulances, which, the health authorities stressed, “has had a positive impact on their care and sustainability”.

MCV, however, is worried about the government’s inability to pay for its services. “To be able to restock with new equipment and expand, it is essential that the payments come in and we are able to get the funding,” said a company official, adding that good management could lead to an expansion of the ambulance fleet in the capital or its expansion to other provinces.

But Public Health claimed that payments in freely convertible currency (LCM) and pesos to the company are “up to date”. But, apart from not clarifying whether they owe other invoices in foreign currency, it reminded MCV that payments “have the normal financial problems caused by the blockade”.

Translated by GH

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“My Little Girl Tells Me, ‘Mama, Come,’” Says the Cuban Mother Deported From the United States

The Department of Homeland Security’s version is far from what Heidy Sánchez and her lawyer say.

In an interview with EFE, the Heidy Sánchez recounts details of her deportation. / EFE

14ymedio, Havana, 7 May 2025 — The story of Heidy Sánchez—the Cuban mother recently deported from Florida to Havana without her 17-month-old daughter—has sparked a wave of criticism and outrage in legal circles and among immigrant rights advocates. Now, in an interview with EFE, the 44-year-old Cuban woman recounts the details of her deportation.

Sánchez says she was taken handcuffed to a cell, where she told an officer, “What need do you have to handcuff me? You’re already taking my life, you’re already killing me, you’re separating me from what I love most in the world.” The girl, a U.S. citizen—like her father—was left in his care while her mother was transferred to various detention centers and finally sent back to Cuba, without being allowed to take the child with her or to say goodbye to her.

Sánchez has no criminal record and was treated as if she were a dangerous criminal.

Her lawyer, Claudia Cañizares, denounced that the procedure was riddled with irregularities: “Sánchez has no criminal record and was treated as if she were a dangerous criminal.” According to her allegations, the mother was never given the legal option of being deported along with her daughter, as stipulated in immigration protocols for family situations.

The case has also prompted a response from the Department of Homeland Security. Its spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, denied any wrongdoing and maintained that it was Sánchez herself who requested to return to Cuba “without her daughter,” leaving her in the care “of a relative.” McLaughlin added: “We take seriously the responsibility to protect children and will continue to work with authorities to ensure that minors are safe and protected.” continue reading

But the official version is far from what Sánchez remembers. She arrived in the US in 2019, crossing through Laredo, Texas, and was admitted under supervision, with the obligation to report periodically to ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) offices. Initially, she was required to do so once a year, but with the change of administration, the appointments became monthly.

“I had no choice. They didn’t tell me anything, except that the decision had already been made.”

“I was complying with everything. But in April, I decided to move up the appointment because I felt something wasn’t right.” When she arrived at the ICE office, they told her: “No matter what you do, the decision has already been made. You’re leaving.” Sánchez recounts that the ICE agent in Tampa simply told her to call her husband to pick up the girl. “I had no choice. They didn’t tell me anything, just that the decision had already been made,” she said.

Amidst the confusion and fear, she barely managed to make a brief call to the child’s father. “Did they give you the girl?” was the first question he asked when he answered, concerned about the fate of the little girl, who also suffers from epileptic seizures.

She then spent 48 hours being transferred from one detention center to another, without access to her daughter or adequate legal counsel, until she boarded the plane that returned her to Cuba. “They let me change clothes only to put on the gray uniform from the center. I’m not a criminal, but that’s how they treated me.”

During those dark days, Sánchez found a moment of solace with two other mothers—one Cuban and one Honduran—who were also facing deportation. “We hugged each other like sisters. Neither of us understood why they were separating us from our children. All we did was seek a better life for them,” she recalled, her voice breaking.

Poor connectivity and power outages complicate the phone calls

From Cuba, the woman tries to communicate daily with her family in Tampa, although poor connectivity and power outages complicate the phone calls. “Every time I manage to talk, my little girl stares at me through the screen and says, ‘Mama, come.’ That devastates me.”

Sánchez’s case has rekindled the debate over immigration policies in the United States, especially those affecting mixed families, with migrant parents and citizen children. “It’s not a matter of politics. I know they’re doing their job. But what about feelings? My daughter needs me, and I need her too. That’s what they don’t want to see or understand,” she said.

Attorney Claudia Cañizares, along with Sánchez’s family, has launched a campaign to gather signatures, attract public attention, and explore all possible legal avenues to achieve family reunification. “This case demonstrates that rhetoric about security can no longer serve as a justification for inhumane practices. It’s not an isolated case, but it is a tragedy,” the attorney concluded.

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The US Requirement for Cuban Players Would Affect the Formation of Team Asere

Andy Pagés, Andy Ibáñez, Yoan Moncada, and Daysbel Hernández could not play for Cuba in the World Classic.

Cuban player Andy Pagés agreed last March to play the in World Classic with Cuba / Pelota Cubana USA

14ymedio, Havana, May 7, 2025 — Andy Pagés’ dream of playing for Cuba seems doomed. After the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) limited the participation of Cubans hired by the Major Leagues in teams that represent the Island, it will be more difficult for the Havana regime to add emigrated athletes to the national team.

“My dad told me that he wanted to see me play for Cuba,” explains Pagés, a Dodgers player, who wants to join the Island team in the 2026 World Classic. He is among the list of athletes who, playing in the U.S., the Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB) aspired to add to the event. Andy Ibáñez, Yoan Moncada and Daysbel Hernández are also in this category, according to El Nuevo Herald journalist Jorge Ebro.

The new version of Team Asere that the FCB aims to form seems distant, after OFAC, a branch of the Treasury Department, prohibited U.S. teams from hiring players who reside in Cuba, intend to return to it or represent the Island at international events.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has prohibited U.S. teams from hiring players residing in Cuba

Last March, Ebro indicated that Pagés only needed the approval of the Dodgers in order to participate in the event that will take place at the Hiram Bithorn stadium in Puerto Rico, and in which Cuba must face the local team, as well as Panama, Canada and Colombia. continue reading

However, under the new provision, Cuban players who participate in major league teams will have to sign “a sworn and notarized declaration that they have established their permanent residence outside of Cuba and do not intend to return.”

Yoan Moncada, who currently plays for the Los Angeles Angels, would also be one of the players who could not join Team Asere. The veteran player joined the team this season in exchange for $5,000,000.

“Moncada comes from spending nine seasons with the White Sox, a period in which he did not manage to fully meet the high expectations that accompanied him when he arrived in Chicago in December 2016,” published MLB magazine in Spanish.

To the obstacles faced by the FCB to form the team that will lead to the World Classic is added the lack of a coach, after manager Mandy Johnson was dismissed last February.

In the panorama there are options, names: Alfonso Urquiola, Germán Mesa and Pablo Civil, but so far there is no one to tip the balance for the FCB.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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Putin Receives Díaz-Canel and Maduro, Key Pieces in Moscow’s Strategic Alliance With the Bolivarian Axis

Although there were only three of them in the Red Army, the Russian president celebrates the participation of Cubans in World War II.

Díaz-Canel said that for Cuba it is “very significant” to be in Moscow / Kremlin

14ymedio, Havana, May 7, 2025 — In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazism, the Kremlin has brought out its symbolic and ideological muscle, strengthening alliances with its most loyal Latin American partners: Cuba and Venezuela. In a week full of gestures, speeches and signing agreements, Vladimir Putin and his chancellor, Sergei Lavrov, have made it clear that for Moscow, the “Bolivarian axis” is not only still in place but is also projected as a geopolitical counterweight in times of war and sanctions.

Miguel Díaz-Canel and Nicolás Maduro, faithful to their roles as ideological allies of the Kremlin, attended the meeting punctually with speeches, flowers and cooperation treaties. They arrived in the Russian capital separately, but with similar speeches. One spoke of historical memory, the other of multipolarity, and both hailed the “unbreakable friendship” with Russia. Vladimir Putin took the opportunity to reinforce his image as a global leader besieged but not alone.

In fact, there were three Cubans: Enrique Vilar and the brothers Aldo and Jorge Vivó, who arrived in the USSR as children

In his meeting with Diaz-Canel on Wednesday, Putin highlighted the island’s role in World War II, which the Russians called the Great Patriotic War. “Cuba made its contribution to the fight against Nazism,” he told his Cuban counterpart. “Cuban volunteers fought alongside army soldiers, particularly near Leningrad.” In fact, there were three Cubans: Enrique Vilar and the brothers Aldo and Jorge Vivó, who arrived in the USSR as children. Of these, only Jorge survived the experience.

Díaz-Canel, for his part, said that it is “very significant” to be in Moscow on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazi army on the Eastern Front and the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Castro regime and the then Soviet Union. continue reading

“The Russian people have the merit of saving humanity from fascism,” he said, while denouncing attempts to “diminish the leading and heroic role” of the Soviet Union in the victory over fascism. According to the president, “telling the true story” is the best way to “preserve historical memory.”

For the official Cuban media, Lavrov signed an article that could well be titled “Love Letters to Castro.” There he reiterated the “seamless support” of the Kremlin to its Caribbean partner. “Cuba can always count on our support,” he wrote, and not content with that, he added that he hopes the support will be reciprocal. A gesture of courtesy, of course, but also a subtle reminder of the rules of the game between allies.

The tone of the message mixes Soviet epic and utilitarian diplomacy: “We are on the right side of History,” Lavrov said, with no apparent irony. He also stressed Havana’s support for Moscow in “the hybrid war unleashed by the West,” referring to the conflict in Ukraine. There was no lack of references to strategic cooperation, the more than 100 Russian investment projects on the island and gratitude for Cuban support in international organizations.

Plunged into its worst economic crisis in decades, with blackouts, shortages and rampant inflation, Cuba sees Russia as a lifeline / Kremlin

Yes, what Havana is urgently looking for is less ideology and more resources. In its worst economic crisis in decades, with blackouts, shortages and rampant inflation, Cuba sees Russia as a lifeline. But this lifeline comes with conditions: to align politically and attend the Red Square parades on time.

Despite the fact that the Russian Foreign Minister called the island a “priority partner,” Putin preferred to meet with Maduro first. While Díaz-Canel strolled through Moscow and placed flowers next to the statue of Fidel Castro, Maduro signed a new Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement in the Kremlin. He did so between praise for the Red Army, recalling that it saved the world with “27 million martyrs” and declaring that Russia is today “the main power of humanity.”

The agreement with Venezuela seeks to consolidate “long-term” relations in sectors such as energy, logistics, health and transport. Putin welcomed the fact that bilateral trade increased by 64% in 2024, although it remains modest in absolute numbers (about $200 million). The photos, however, are more valuable than the balances: in them, Putin and Maduro smile like old comrades, sealing the narrative of a global resistance against the “empire” and its allies.

Cuba and Venezuela are key pieces: loyal, predictable and willing to attend the requires forums and ceremonies

The simultaneity of these gestures is not accidental. In international chess, Moscow carefully cultivates its network of allies with discourses of sovereignty, multipolarity and historical fraternity. Cuba and Venezuela are key pieces: loyal, predictable and willing to attend the required forums and ceremonies. In return, they get oil, wheat, credit, and something even more scarce: international legitimacy.

For the three governments – Russia, Cuba and Venezuela – this type of diplomatic staging serves to reinforce the domestic narrative that they are not isolated, they have powerful partners, and the “new world order” is underway. All this, even if ordinary citizens continue to face blackouts, sanctions, inflation and an institutional inertia difficult to disguise with parades and hugs.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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The Celac Circus

The institution is an essential instrument to promote despotism

Image of the IX Summit of Heads of State and Government of CELAC, in Tegucigalpa (Honduras) / EFE

14ymedio, Pedro Corzo, May 6, 2025 — It must be admitted that Castrochavismo has been very lavish in setting up regional organizations with the aim of having several means to control politics in any of its expressions in the hemisphere and thus build the sea of happiness dreamed of by Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez, one of the most cruel realities for those who are trapped in their dystopias.

One of these institutions is the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), which held its most recent summit last April in Honduras under the pro tempore presidency of Xiomara Castro, president of the Central American country, who passed the baton to Colombia in the person of Gustavo Petro.

It is interesting to note that the CELAC Summit takes place in Honduras when this country is preparing for presidential elections and hands over the presidency to Colombia, which also holds general elections next year. Therefore, it is easy to deduce that these meetings tend to politically boost their hosts, providing them with a platform that, although of little prestige, serves to promote them, a practice that Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez implemented during their respective dictatorships. They were fascinated by the circus, although they always rationed the bread to their sycophants. continue reading

Celac will always be an instrument of destabilization and cooperation for those who seek power, those who want to impose their will at the expense of the rights of the governed

CELAC is the populist counterpart of the Organization of American States, the OAS, which in fact seems to be a one-size-fits-all twin in terms of their mutual inefficiency in meeting their respective goals.

CELAC is an essential instrument to promote despotism, so its purposes will remain valid as long as autocrats like Rafael Correa and Evo Morales exert influence in the American context, and individuals like Nicolás Maduro, Daniel Ortega, Xiomara Castro and Miguel Díaz-Canel, who have never ceased to be enemies of democratic values, scrutiny and criticism, are in power.

They and their allies, even if they do not have the initial resources that Venezuela’s oil provided, are the enlightened ones of internet times who only appreciate the freedom and rights of others from the meridian of their interests. CELAC will always be an instrument of destabilization and cooperation for those who seek power, those who want to impose their will to the detriment of the rights of the governed.

Castro, Chavez and, of course, Luis Inacio Lula da Silva – once palatable for the Latin American political class and the United States – founded CELAC, UNASUR (Union of South American Nations) and ALBA (Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of our America), an outpouring of acronyms that have only served to disseminate their proposals with little success.

The decline of CELAC is more than evident, as indicated by the fact that only 11 presidents from the 33 states that make up the entity attended, lacking the most conspicuous of all, Nicolás Maduro, whom Washington equates with Osama Bin Laden by offering the same amount of money for his capture. The Cuban dictator Miguel Díaz-Canel was received in Tegucigalpa by what some say is the real commander in the country, Jose Manuel Zelaya.

The decline of CELAC is more than evident, as indicated by the fact that only 11 presidents from 33 states attended, lacking the most conspicuous of all, Nicolás Maduro

Another important aspect to highlight is that two of the three countries that are to some extent the backbone of the entity, Nicaragua and Venezuela, were absent. Only Cuba participated, because the beggar dictator does not miss an opportunity to claim a shred of anything that allows him to remain in power.

These three countries are facing a deep crisis of governance because of the widespread popular discontent that forces them to impose strict social control where what is not explicitly allowed is prohibited, while keeping numerous people in prisons.

Cuba has 1,152 people locked up for political reasons, most of them 66 years after the tyranny came to power; Venezuela has 1,601 political prisoners; and Nicaragua still has about 100 political prisoners after having emptied prisons by banishing several hundred prisoners and taking away their citizenship. However, any of them are citizens with more decency than the couple Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo will ever have.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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The Water Situation in Las Tunas, Cuba’s Driest Province, Is Worsening

Authorities call for “savings,” while residents demand urgent infrastructure investments.

The cycle of abandonment threatens to turn this piece of Cuba into a literal desert / Periódico 26

14ymedio, Havana, May 6, 2025– Named for the prickly pear cactus that thrives in arid climates, Las Tunas is today facing one of the most severe droughts in its recent history. This situation has aggravated the already critical vulnerability of the country’s driest province, where the average annual rainfall is barely 1.038 millimeters (25.4 inches).

The local press reports this Tuesday that there are divers currently working in the El Rincón reservoir to install a floating outlet which, according to the authorities, will improve the water supply to the provincial capital. Most alarmingly, shortages affect not only households and industries but also particularly sensitive sectors such as public health.

The El Rincón reservoir, with a capacity of 22 million cubic meters (77.7 cubic feet), currently stores only about 6 million (212 million cubic feet). Given this situation, the authorities have chosen to reiterate the usual “call to conserve water” in each home and workplace, as reported by Piedad Herrera, director of the Aqueduct and Sewerage Basic Business Unit of the municipality of Las Tunas, in telephone statements to Periódico 26, the official media of the province. continue reading

Pumping from Piedra Hueca has also been stopped due to a transformer failure

To further aggravate the situation, pumping from Piedra Hueca has also been stopped due to a transformer failure. Nor do the alternatives offer guarantees: from the La Cana basin, of the 50 liters (13.2 gallons) per second that could be pumped, between 20 (5.28 gallons) and 30 (7.93 gallons) are lost on the way to the city due to leaks in the distribution network.

More and more Las Tunas residents think that it is not enough to call for conserving water or waiting for the arrival of rain. They call for urgent investments in water infrastructure and more efficient management of resources, guaranteeing access to safe drinking water as a basic right for all citizens.

The effects of this crisis are not just immediate: the medium- and long-term consequences may be even more devastating. Alberto, a young farmer from the area, complains on Facebook: “The government is good at making diagnoses but terrible at offering solutions.”

More than 80% of the soils in Las Tunas are classified as being between regular and poor

The data confirm this. More than 80% of the soils in Las Tunas are classified as being between regular and poor, due to factors such as erosion, salinization, compaction and poor drainage. This deterioration has a direct impact on agricultural and livestock production, and threatens the food security of the region.

It is ironic that the name of the province comes, according to tradition, from landowner Jesús Gamboa, owner of a property famous for its thorny plants back in the seventeenth century. It was said that he gave his visitors one of his “brave tunas,” a symbol of protection against bad luck.

Today, the inhabitants of that land need more than amulets. It is not enough for the long-awaited May downpours to arrive. What Las Tunas urgently needs is a clear, coherent and effective policy of investment and management of water resources, which will finally break the cycle of abandonment that threatens to turn this piece of Cuba into a literal desert.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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Only 1 Percent of Spanish Entrepreneurs Are Willing to Invest in Cuba

Legal uncertainty is the main deterrent factor, in addition to poor infrastructure.

Spanish companies cite legal uncertainty as the main negative factor when investing in Cuba / 14ymedio

14ymedio, Madrid, May 6, 2025 — History repeats itself, but for the worse. Spain is still one of the countries with more investors in Cuba, but it is the Latin American country where Spaniards invest the least, and the percentage has been reduced by half in just one year. In 2024, only 2% of Spanish companies with presence in the region had contributed fresh capital the previous year, mainly due to “deficient infrastructures” in Cuba. Now, only 1% would do so, and the most relevant factor is “legal uncertainty.”

The data appear in the 2024 Panorama of Spanish Investment in Ibero-America, published this Monday by IE University, Auxadi and Iberia and presented by Casa de América in Madrid. It presents the consequences of Donald Trump’s tariff policy that, although affecting countries in the region to a lesser extent than in other areas, influence the business prospects of Spanish entrepreneurs.

“It seems that more Spanish companies will opt for a policy of waiting for developments before making new investment decisions. The commitment to the region remains strong, but we are waiting to see what happens in the United States,” says the document in its introduction. The data reflect a drop in investment plans in Latin America of up to 13 points, from 76% last year to 63% this year. In addition, 30 per cent intend to maintain their plans and 7 per cent to reduce them. continue reading

From the 80% of SMSEs willing to invest in the region in previous years, it has fallen to 50%

The percentage falls sharply when looking at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): from 80% willing to invest in the region in previous years, it has fallen to 50%. The change is so significant that, for the first time since the report was drawn up, companies expect sales to rise more in the European Union than in Latin America.

The report barely mentions Cuba, except to highlight that it is on the list of countries where Spaniards plan to invest. Mexico, despite being one of the countries most affected by tariffs, repeats as a priority objective for companies in Spain, followed by Colombia, Chile, Peru and Brazil in that order. Costa Rica and Paraguay improve, while the rest remain stable.

Argentina will have “enormous difficulties,” but entrepreneurs are optimistic about its development for 2025 and give it a 3.59 (out of 5 points) of confidence. Uruguay and the Dominican Republic follow, but Mexico is losing ground because of its “high exposure to the U.S.” Nicaragua, Cuba and Venezuela have 2.65, 2.31 and 2.09 respectively.

One of the questions measured in the report is what advantages Latin American countries offer that encourage investment and give access to an attractive domestic market. Mexico, Brazil and Chile are highlighted (67%), followed by a skilled labor force in Mexico, Chile and Colombia (33%). In addition, there are access to raw materials (Brazil, Chile and Argentina), free trade agreements with third countries (Mexico, Argentina and Chile), competitiveness in the region (Mexico, Chile and Brazil) and advantageous geographical location, where Cuba again loses the opportunity to stand out and entrepreneurs prefer, once again, Mexico, Panama and the Dominican Republic.

Cuba does appear in the opposite table: that of the region’s disadvantages. Although political instability (76%) is the worst of the identified risks -highlighting here Venezuela, Peru and Ecuador – followed by exchange rate (56%), with Argentina, Brazil and Chile at the top, legal uncertainty is the terrain led by Cuba. Followed by Venezuela and Bolivia, these are the countries where entrepreneurs most fear that some legal regulation will arise that will cause them harm.

The table closes with citizen insecurity (33%), economic slowdown (27%) and social instability

The table closes with citizen insecurity (33%), economic slowdown (27%) and social instability.

Cuba once again fares badly for the countries with more complex taxation. It is in fourth place with 3.83 (of 5 points), behind Brazil, Venezuela and Argentina, while the Spanish value the simple systems of Panama, Paraguay, Uruguay and Honduras. The latter has a score of 2.07, relatively far from the Uruguayan 2.80.

The report points out that one of the most significant changes is entrepreneurs’ perception of China as a competitor. Last year, 70% of respondents believed the Asian giant was not a significant competitor, compared to 55% this year. In addition, in the previous report 15% saw China as a “rather important” competitor, ten points less than this year when the amount rose to 25%. And those who saw China as competition rose from 15% to 20%.

For cities, the Mexican capital is still the preferred metropolis for Spaniards to locate their headquarters in Latin America (33%), far ahead of Bogota (15%) and Miami (14%). The latter, on the other hand, remains the preferred option for living, as it gains in safety, leisure and quality of life over Mexico City. The second city most chosen by Spanish entrepreneurs to move to is Santiago de Chile, which ties with Panama City.

In general terms, the document concludes that Donald Trump’s arrival at the White House has “turned the entire economic and geopolitical landscape upside down” and that the trade war he has embarked on has “radically” changed the economic outlook, which is reduced, according to the forecasts of the International Monetary Fund.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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The Cuban Government Will Sanction Companies That Reject the Russian MIR Card

Díaz-Canel proposes a direct flight connection between St. Petersburg and Havana to boost Russian tourism.

Cuba hoped to attract this year the 200,000 Russian tourists that it did not reach last year, but there is a 50% decrease in the first quarter.

14ymedio, Madrid, 6 May 2025 — Miguel Díaz-Canel’s trip to Russia to attend the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Army over Nazi Germany, which will be commemorated on May 9, is front page news without any concrete results of the visit being given. The appointment is turning out to be more institutional and propagandistic than the government wanted, which yesterday made an announcement that it’s not even that.

The Cuban president met with the governor of Saint Petersburg, Alexandr Beglov, at the Smolny Palace, the Bolshevik headquarters in the October Revolution, and they explored options for establishing direct flights between that city and Havana. And that is, for now, the non-news that international agencies have reproduced, quoting statements from Díaz-Canel to Tass. The president said that work is being done to increase the number of tourists from Russia’s second largest city to Cuba and that options are being considered for a route to Havana.

Whether this connection will be achieved remains to be seen. The companies must decide whether they are compensated by this route, just in the middle of the decline of Russian tourism to Cuba. In the first quarter of the year, the decrease in this market was 50%, with only 33,395 travelers arriving from Russia compared to the 66,879 of last year. continue reading

In the first quarter of this year, the market fell by 50%, with only 33,395 passengers arriving from Russia, compared to the 66,879 of last year

The announcement by Díaz-Canel has led the Russian press to refloat a report that the Cuban Minister of Tourism, Juan Carlos García Granda, gave last week at the International Fair of the sector (FitCuba), which had not yet been publicized. In the midst of a frenzy to attract Russians that did not succeed, the Cuban government approved in early 2023 the use of Mir cards on the island and committed to accelerate the implementation – both in payment and withdrawal of rubles at cash machines – to provide facilities for tourists from Russia.

Apparently dissatisfied with the process, the authorities had spoken on several occasions of a wider expansion, but now they announce the “total” extension and warn of the consequences that resisting the process could entail.

“We have issued clear recommendations for the field of tourism: everyone should accept Mir cards, regardless of technical preferences. We are preparing the second stage: if the business refuses to comply with this requirement, its activities may be limited,” García Granda told Ria Novosti.

The minister said that there are already more than 20,000 hotels and retail stores that accept the Russian card, but that coverage must be complete. In the absence of further details, his statements infer that private or self-employed workers could lose their licenses if they do not accept this payment system, which does not seem to be a sufficient incentive to encourage tourism from Russia.

In the absence of further details, his statements infer that private individuals or self-employed individuals may lose their licenses if they do not accept this payment system

In 2024, the Cuban government estimated that it was possible to attract 200,000 visitors from Russia, based on promising data for 2023 that were influenced by Western sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

However, only 185,816 Russians finally arrived, even though it was one of the best performing sectors, as it grew by 0.5% compared to the tourism losses of almost all countries (only Mexico, with 0.8% more travelers, surpassed Russia). García Granda said then that the forecast of 200,000 should wait until 2025, and he announced deals that have not yet materialized.

“I think we are very close to the fact that the first hotels built by Russian businessmen will appear in Cuba. In addition, a number of existing hotels could be transferred to the management of Russian travel companies,” he said. Nothing substantive has been reported.

It is not a good time to invest in the sector, although the prime minister, Manuel Marrero, announced new measures for a turnaround in tourism policy during FitCuba, plus advantages for China, the market to which he now aspires. Less than a month ago, the Spanish agency EFE reported that the Cuban government is preventing foreign companies from repatriating the currencies in their bank accounts.

According to its sources, it is expected that in return they will be able to open new “unlimited” accounts with monetary backing. These accounts, however, will only admit new capital, because, says EFE, the previous accounts cannot be transferred: only transfers from abroad will be accepted. While some entrepreneurs have regretted a decision that prevents them from taking out their own money, others pointed out that it has been happening for a long time They hope that with the new accounts they will be able to conduct international transactions and repatriate profits.

Among those who do not hesitate to maintain their loyalty, against all odds, is Miquel Fluxà, president of the Balearic hotel company Iberostar, who took advantage of his visit to FitCuba last week to express his confidence in the recovery of tourism on the island.

“I have come all these 30-something years with affection, without looking for anything, and I have felt very respected and loved by the Cubans, which has prompted me to develop all the business we are doing here”

“We believe that things can improve in Cuba,” the businessman told Televisión Cubana. Fluxà pointed out that his company is committed to the development of urban tourism, which seems to endorse his taking over the management of the hotel located in the controversial Tower K in Havana, which opened its doors at the end of February and has received few customers.

“I have come all these 30-something years with affection, without looking for anything, and I have felt very respected and loved by the Cubans, which has prompted me to develop all the business we are doing here. We are trying to do things with the best intention, the best quality,” said Fluxà, who left a declaration of love for his workers on the island.

“I am very satisfied and very proud because we have a group of people who love the company. The important thing is not to do things out of obligation but to do them out of devotion, and we really have a team of people who love the company. Within the circumstances, we try to make them happy and do everything possible to educate them, train them and give them opportunities. People are human, they’re good, and it’s really hard for them not to love Cuba,” he concluded.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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Cuban Activist Ángel Cuza Released From Prison After Serving a Sentence for ‘Public Disorder’

The artist and freelance reporter was arrested in December 2022 while lining up to buy chicken.

Activist, artist, and independent reporter Ángel Cuza. / Facebook/ODC

14ymedio, Madrid, 4 May 2025 — “My people, our brave brother Ángel Cuza has just been released from prison.” With these words, activist Thais Franco announced the release this Saturday of the artist and independent reporter Luis Ángel Cuza Alfonso, after a year and a half of incarceration in the Combinado del Este prison in Havana.

According to the Cultural Rights Observatory (ODC), his release from prison came after he fully served the one-and-a-half-year sentence imposed on him in November 2023, along with Lázaro Rolando Kessel Barrueto and Yasser Rivero Bonn, in a trial that human rights organizations determined was riddled with irregularities.

Cuza was arrested in December 2022 outside a store in the capital, while waiting in line to buy chicken. He was accused of “disturbing public order” for carrying “sticks and stones,” a charge both he and eyewitnesses denied. While awaiting trial, which ended almost a year later, he was released on bail of 20,000 Cuban pesos. continue reading

The ODC reported that the reporter “was the victim of numerous acts that violated his most basic rights” while he was at Combinado del Este.

The ODC reported in its publication that the reporter, a CubaNet contributor, “was the victim of numerous acts that violated his most basic rights” while he was in Combinado del Este, a maximum-security prison. As an example, they explain that, at the end of October 2024, he was beaten and imprisoned for almost a month for joining a protest initiated by fellow artist and political prisoner Duannis León Taboada.

Known for being one of the participants in the Obispo Street protest on April 30, 2021 —in solidarity with artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, who was forcibly confined to the Calixto García Hospital at the time —Cuza has been harassed by State Security ever since.

On May 6, 2022, he was arrested by the political police along with activist Pedro Quiala for broadcasting live from the Saratoga Hotel, which had been destroyed hours earlier in an explosion, the specific cause of which is still unknown. Both were then transferred to Villa Marista, the headquarters of State Security in Havana, where they were interrogated, something that the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights denounced at the time as arbitrary detentions.

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Cubans Are Blocked from Attending Gabriela Fernández’s Talk in Madrid

Only Spaniards loyal to the Cuban regime and Embassy staff were allowed to enter.

Protesters outside Gabriela Fernández’s conference in Madrid on Monday. / 14ymedio

14ymedio, Yunior García Aguilera, Madrid, 5 May 2025 — On Monday, some twenty Cubans heckled Gabriela Fernández Álvarez, host of the pro-government program Con Filo, which airs on Cuban TV, as she left a conference where she gave a talk in Madrid at the Bartolomé de las Casas Spanish-Cuban Friendship Association. The host left escorted by regime officials, while mockingly blowing kisses and listening to the crowd’s cries of “freedom.” Those present demanded, “Look us in the face,” “Freedom for political prisoners,” “Down with the dictatorship,” and “No to political violence.”

National Police officers, who were called in by the organizers, also served as protection for the procession.

Broadcaster Gabriela Fernández Álvarez, in the background, wearing glasses, mockingly blowing kisses to the crowd. / 14ymedio

The protesters had tried to enter the venue but were denied entry. “You’re not welcome, this is a private event,” the venue, located in a neighborhood far from the center of Madrid, told Cubans who wanted to enter. “Cubans can’t enter here,” they reiterated, a discrimination that is illegal in Spain.

With the title “Cuban Youth in the Time of Trump,” the event inaugurated a “tour” by the 25-year-old broadcaster through 12 cities in the “Spanish State”—a term often used by nationalist parties and the far left to refer to the country—until May 21, with the support of the State Movement of Solidarity with Cuba, as announced by the pro-regime media outlet Cubainformación. At no point was it indicated that the events would involve any kind of restriction on who could attend.

Several members of this group covered their faces, either with an umbrella or with a handkerchief bearing the image of Che Guevara. / 14ymedio

The event was held in a nearly empty hall. “It seems they only let in acquaintances, I imagine very close friends,” declared a Spanish citizen who was also not allowed in, adding, “There are more people outside than inside.”

There were barely a dozen people in the small auditorium, including continue reading

prominent members of the Cuban diplomatic corps. From the street, absolutely nothing could be heard: no voices, no applause, no murmurs. “It must have been really boring,” ventured one of those gathered in the small square.

“It seems they only let in acquaintances, I imagine they’re very close friends,” said a Spanish citizen who also wasn’t allowed in. / 14ymedio

Those who congregated outside the association’s doors in the rain did so peacefully. Some held signs calling for the release of political prisoners, including photos of several of them, such as rapper Maykel Castillo Osorbo. Five or six State Security agents were closely watching the movements.

The more than 20 Cubans who gathered outside the association’s doors in the rain did so peacefully. / 14ymedio

Half an hour after the talk was scheduled to begin (7:00 PM Madrid time), two National Police vans arrived at the scene. “The Consulate has requested reinforcements,” joked one of those present. In response to a complaint from one of the security guards, one of the Spanish officers was blunt: “Those who are on the streets have the right to be there.”

Led by Michel Torres Corona, heir to the late Iroel Sánchez, Con Filo is one of the most aggressive propaganda programs on Cuban Television. Like Hacemos Cuba, hosted by regime spokesman Humberto López, its objective is to attack and defame activists, opponents, independent journalists, and any other citizen who deviates from Party orthodoxy. All of this is aimed at a “young” audience, with a manner that pretends to be relaxed and borders on apathy.

Gabriela Fernández, in Madrid, escorted by Cuban regime officials. / 14ymedio/Capture

The list of its smear campaigns even includes Alejandro Gil, Cuba’s ousted Minister of Economy, who is detained and whose whereabouts are still unknown.

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US Border Patrol Detains Cuban with Lengthy Criminal Record

The migrant showed up “as if nothing had happened” at a checkpoint in New Mexico, an agency official reported.

In New Mexico, the Border Patrol detained a Cuban migrant who was the subject of a permanent removal order.

14ymedio, Havana, 5 May 2025 — Last Friday, Border Patrol detained a Cuban migrant who acted “as if nothing had happened” at a New Mexico checkpoint. The migrant, whose identity has been withheld, had been issued a permanent removal order under Section 8 USC 1253 of the Immigration and Nationality Act for failing to appear for immigration appointments, according to Chief Warrant Officer Michael Banks.

According to Banks, the Cuban man’s arrest “underscores the crucial role that checkpoints play in protecting our communities from violent criminals.”

The arrest of this Cuban migrant follows the arrests in Florida last March of eight other Cubans with criminal records for drug trafficking, fraud, sex crimes, and elder abuse.

This Cuban immigrant is implicated in murder, weapons possession, and drug charges. / X/@USBPChief

“Undocumented immigrants will no longer hide in the shadows of the bureaucracy,” Jeffrey Dinise, head of the Miami sector of the Border Patrol, warned at the time, confirming that detainees rely on mitigating circumstances to avoid imminent deportation.

In the first 100 days of Republican Donald Trump’s second term as U.S. president, raids to locate and deport irregular migrants with criminal continue reading

records have intensified.

During January through April, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recorded the arrest of 66,463 migrants, 75% of whom had criminal records. Among those detained were 2,288 suspected members of gangs such as Tren de Aragua, MS-13, and Barrio 18. Additionally, 1,329 people were linked to sex crimes and 498 to homicides.

This week, Trump used the CBP Home app to promote self-deportations. He is now offering not only “travel assistance” but also $1,000 to all non-US citizens to voluntarily leave the country.

The Department of Homeland Security called the initiative a “historic opportunity” to offer foreigners “financial and travel assistance to facilitate their return to their home country through the CBP Home app.”

The U.S. government estimates that using the app “will reduce deportation costs by approximately 70%,” even with the payment of assistance. Currently, the average cost of arresting, detaining, and removing an illegal alien “is $17,121,” according to the administration.

Translated by Tomás A.

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