Israel Rojas Extends "Warm Welcome" to Cuban Parolees Facing Deportation from the U.S.

In the wake of the Trump Administration's decision to rescind the humanitarian parole program, singer Israel Rojas has reached out to Cuban parolees in jeopardy of deportation with a message of “welcome.” Rojas, a member of the duo Buena Fe, expressed his readiness to welcome these “compatriots” with open arms and music, as he shared in a Facebook post.

“We’re here, ready to receive you with open arms,” Rojas stated, promising to greet them with his songs. “At least I will do it with music that reflects both the light and shadows of our nation. Music that attempts to bring a bit of joy to the hearts of those who enjoy what I do,” he elaborated.

True to the regime’s rhetoric, Rojas alluded to Cubans who left seeking a way out of the crisis, attributing the blame primarily to the “economic, commercial, and financial war imposed by the U.S. government on the Cuban people.” His message subtly criticized artists who had previously been vocal against Cuban authorities but now remain silent about U.S. actions.

“What really baffles me is the silence of those artists and intellectuals who were intensely critical of the undeniable deficiencies and mistakes of Cuban authorities. Many of them, now in the 'land of freedom,' seem ungrateful and selectively forgetful of the benefits Cuba allowed them to achieve,” Rojas lamented.

He went on to speak of unmasking and “euphemisms exposed.” Rojas claimed, “Neither the ‘independent’ press is truly independent, nor do those ‘escaping communism’ fit into the ‘American dream.’ It’s clear the blockade exists, and with increased tightening policies, everyone loses, while parasitic politicians profit from the majority’s suffering... now there’s a deafening silence.”

Rojas questioned those artists and intellectuals he considers silenced, asking, “Do they no longer have the courage to get involved? Can’t they see that fostering a relationship of respect and good neighborliness guarantees good living and peace for both nations? Or do they know that the truly horrible consequences of their rebellions will be suffered there, not here?” He concluded, “Only time will tell. Live to see.”

Beyond the dark, cryptic second part of Rojas’s statement, the segment that has sparked numerous reactions since its publication is his promise of an open-armed and musical welcome to potential deportees. The message has been overwhelmingly received negatively by internet users, with many deeming it cynical, hypocritical, and even insulting to Cubans facing deportation.

Comments with sarcasm and mockery poured in: “That sounds like a threat of torture”; “The punishment is twofold: you get deported and then greeted by Mala Fe with their music”; “I’d rather jump off the plane than listen to Buena Fe at the airport”; “If Dante revived, he’d rewrite The Divine Comedy and add this as a new level of Purgatory,” noted some users with biting wit.

Others emphasized their disdain for both Rojas’s music and persona, labeling him a “shameless” figure and advising him to worry more about being on a list of oppressors. “Buena Fe’s music induces hunger, sadness, and tears”; “That guy looks better when he’s quiet”; “We don’t need your music, they have enough already”; “Mala Fe is the cherry on top of the return to hell,” others pointed out.

Amidst the ridicule, biting criticism, and outrage, most internet users viewed his message as disconnected from the harsh reality facing potential deportees. In a landscape marred by a migration crisis and divisive diaspora, the musician’s offer has been seen as painfully ironic, more akin to opportunism than genuine empathy. Despite his enigmatic rebuke to silenced artists across the sea, few have commented. The promise of open arms seems to have overshadowed everything else.