A Cuban man who had been residing in Sweden for over 13 years and has two children born in the country, one aged eight and the other two, has been deported back to the island. The deportation was allegedly due to his failure to update his identity documents within the required timeframe, as he revealed over a month ago in a TikTok video.
In a video recorded this week on L Street in El Vedado, the young man—known on social media as "Sentelemald"—announced that he was now in Cuba and had managed to connect "miraculously" given the challenges of internet access on the island. He mentioned that he would update his followers on his situation soon.
For now, he has not provided further details about his initial weeks back in Cuba, as he arrived on May 15, according to other videos he posted. Prior to his deportation, the Cuban shared multiple videos on TikTok debunking claims that he was unemployed or had a criminal record, among other speculations from netizens who find his case suspicious.
Reasons and Repercussions
One of his clarifications addressed why he did not flee to another European country, as some suggested. He explained that doing so would immediately place him on a blacklist with Swedish authorities, a path he was unwilling to take.
Throughout, he has defended his right to be with his two-year-old son, whom he has now been forced to leave behind. He has also expressed love for his current partner and the mother of his child.
"Sentelemald" shared his story to warn other migrants about the strict laws in Sweden and the importance of keeping identity documents up to date. He previously explained that he failed to update his documents because he was involved in a legal process to regain shared custody of his older son, which required significant effort and expense, distracting him and affecting his personal life.
From the outset, many internet users have speculated that "Sentelemald" might be hiding details that could shed more light on his situation. However, other followers have shown unconditional support on social media, leaving messages of solidarity and noting that hundreds of migrants in Sweden face similar situations.
Traditionally, Sweden was seen as a welcoming country, but since 2023, political narratives linking migrants to criminality have intensified, and exclusionary policies have significantly toughened.
Previously, "Sentelemald" mentioned that he would try to launch his music career upon returning to Cuba and stated that he would face the challenge with optimism. For now, he has left his followers in suspense regarding his impressions of his return to the country.
FAQs About Deportation of Cuban Man from Sweden
Here are some frequently asked questions related to the deportation of "Sentelemald" from Sweden to Cuba, providing more insight into his situation and the broader context.
Why was "Sentelemald" deported from Sweden?
He was allegedly deported for failing to update his identity documents within the required timeframe.
What were the main concerns of "Sentelemald" regarding his deportation?
He was concerned about being separated from his young son and the impact on his family life.
How has Sweden's stance on migrants changed recently?
Since 2023, political narratives linking migrants to criminality have increased, and exclusionary policies have become significantly stricter.