After playing a role in the repressive machinery of the Cuban regime that imprisoned over a thousand peaceful protesters on July 11, 2021 (11J), a prosecutor from Camagüey is now seeking a visa to emigrate to the United States. The prosecutor in question is Rosabel Roca Sampedro, who served as a prosecutor at the Camagüey Municipal Court before emigrating to Mexico with her daughter. She is now applying for a visa through the CBPOne application to enter the U.S., according to Martí Noticias.
According to U.S. immigration sources who requested anonymity, Martí Noticias learned about the case of Roca Sampedro, a prosecutor who sought prison sentences for protesters from the historic 11J demonstrations and other Camagüey dissidents. Activists on social media reported that the prosecutor left Cuba with her young daughter at an undetermined date and is now waiting for a U.S. immigration appointment to seek political asylum.
Currently residing in Mexico, Roca Sampedro deleted a social media profile that allegedly showed her close ties with the Cuban regime. The non-governmental organization Prisoners Defenders claims to have documented her repressive history as part of the Cuban justice administration.
"The case is number 26 of 2022, from the Preliminary Phase File 31 of 2021, for Assault and Contempt, processed by prosecutor Rosabel Roca Sampedro. We have it in our archives. Due to her work, four innocent people were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 3 years and 6 months to 4 years and 4 months," said Javier Larrondo, director of the NGO, to Martí Noticias.
Specializing in documenting human rights violations in Cuba, the organization emphasized that Roca Sampedro was "known in the Camagüey Municipal Court," among others, by the victims of the 11J repression, as well as by the dissident Bárbaro de Céspedes, the Cuban Patriot.
Prisoners Defenders highlights Roca Sampedro as the prosecutor who sent Lesyani Heredia Salazar (22), Adrián Quesada Flores (32), Yadisley Rodríguez Ramírez (34), and Geovanis Sépulveda Martínez (43) to prison. All are considered political prisoners by the organization.
"If the prosecutor wants to redeem her crimes, given that arbitrary imprisonment is a crime against humanity she participated in and whose perpetrators would be the Castro family, the first thing she must do is call the media and reveal everything she has done for the regime, what the regime forces her to do, and its operations," Larrondo added. "Her victims remain in prison. She cannot redeem herself in any way without at least making an effort to correct the harm she has caused."
Bárbaro de Céspedes also commented that Roca Sampedro sentenced him to one year and six months in prison for disobedience and incitement to commit a crime, due to his participation in the 11J protests and a live Facebook broadcast encouraging people to take to the streets.
"She was very despotic with me. She didn't even let me speak. When they tried to silence me in court, I defended myself with the Constitution. I was imprisoned for a year and eight months because of her... She always showed disdain for me and what I stood for. I would be very satisfied if she were deported to this country. She doesn't deserve to live in freedom," he added.
Justicia 11J, another organization dedicated to exposing repression and highlighting 11J political prisoners, also provided one of the sentences issued after the protests and confirmed that Roca Sampedro was among the prosecutors who judged the demonstrators. Her signature appears on the document.
According to Martí Noticias, Roca Sampedro (42) has a daughter living in Houston, Texas, where she presumably plans to live if granted entry to the United States. Martí Noticias managed to speak briefly with the prosecutor's contact in Houston, Adrián Díaz, who admitted knowing her but declined to provide further comments.
Exodus of Cuban Regime Enforcers
The case of Roca Sampedro highlights the ongoing exodus of officials, regime leaders, and their families leaving Cuba in recent times.
In late May, it was revealed that the U.S. authorities denied entry to the country to Melody González Pedraza, a judge from Villa Clara, upon her arrival at Tampa International Airport, Florida, with a humanitarian parole. González Pedraza's record included the conviction for "assault" of four young Cubans under 30 who threw molotov cocktails at the homes of police chiefs and regime officials in Encrucijada on November 18, 2022.
After being denied humanitarian parole, González Pedraza was forced to seek political asylum and is currently in police custody. She is scheduled for an asylum hearing on June 12, which will determine if she will be deported to Cuba.
In early March, the president of the Cuban Supreme Court, Rubén Remigio Ferro, praised the expressions of support heard from his subordinates during a meeting of the Artemisa courts.
With the exodus of active prosecutors outpacing the graduation rate, and the pressure this places on the justice administration, the high-ranking official of the totalitarian Cuban regime emphasized the commitment of the jurists to defending a legal-political order that keeps more than a thousand political prisoners in the country's jails.
"Enthusiastic and willing, that's how judges and court workers in Artemisa expressed themselves during their annual meeting. 'Unity,' 'vocation,' 'I am and will remain here because I want to and I like it,' were the most heard expressions. Well done!" Remigio Ferro stated on social media.
The migration crisis caused by the misgovernance of Miguel Díaz-Canel's so-called "continuity" has led hundreds of thousands of Cubans to embark on an unprecedented exodus in the country's history. Among the professionals leaving their lives in Cuba are also officials and workers of the justice administration.
A report from the official press noted that Cuban prosecutors are abandoning their positions, highlighting the case of Ciego de Ávila, one of the territories with the most significant decline in the number of jurists.
Between 2022 and 2023, Ciego de Ávila saw a significant departure of prosecutors, with 28 resignations surpassing the 22 that occurred in the previous five years. This situation has left the Provincial Prosecutor's Office operating with little more than half the staff needed for its 10 municipalities.
With 93 positions currently filled by only 52 prosecutors, the judicial establishment of the Cuban regime is debating possible solutions to alleviate this crisis.
Understanding the Exodus of Cuban Regime Officials
This section provides a deeper understanding of the situation surrounding the departure of Cuban regime officials, focusing on key questions and answers related to the topic.
Why is Rosabel Roca Sampedro seeking asylum in the United States?
Rosabel Roca Sampedro is seeking asylum in the United States after playing a role in the Cuban regime's repressive actions during the 11J protests. She hopes to escape the consequences of her actions and start a new life.
What is the significance of the 11J protests in Cuba?
The 11J protests, which took place on July 11, 2021, were significant as they represented a large-scale public outcry against the Cuban regime. The protests saw thousands of Cubans taking to the streets to demand freedom and better living conditions.
How has the Cuban regime responded to the exodus of its officials?
The Cuban regime has faced significant challenges due to the exodus of its officials. The departure of prosecutors and other judicial staff has put pressure on the administration of justice, leading to debates on how to address the staffing shortages.
What actions has Prisoners Defenders taken regarding Rosabel Roca Sampedro?
Prisoners Defenders has documented the repressive actions of Rosabel Roca Sampedro and has called for her to reveal all details of her involvement with the regime to seek redemption for her crimes against humanity.