Cuban activists Lázaro Yuri Valle Roca and Eralidis Frómeta have embarked on the process of applying for political asylum in the United States following the notification of their humanitarian parole revocation by authorities, mandating their departure from the country by April 24.
"We are already in contact with some attorneys and are waiting for them to send us the document we need to draft for the asylum process. We have to try," Frómeta stated on Monday to the EFE news agency.
Frómeta, the wife of independent journalist Valle Roca, emphasized that their primary goal is to avoid returning to Cuba, from which they departed for Miami in June of the previous year. "If we are deported back to the country where we have faced persecution for so many years, the Cuban authorities will feel more justified in retaliating against us," she cautioned.
Facing Imminent Danger
Returning to the island would pose an "imminent danger" for both of them, according to Frómeta. "They might not even let us board the plane. I don't believe Cuba would accept us back," she added, referencing other cases of Cuban dissidents who have been barred from re-entering the country after leaving.
Valle Roca was imprisoned in Cuba from 2021, serving a five-year sentence for the alleged crime of continued enemy propaganda. His health significantly deteriorated during his incarceration. The sentence was condemned by the Cuban Institute for Freedom of Expression and Press (ICLEP), Amnesty International, and the Cuban Observatory for Human Rights (OCDH).
Legal and Emotional Recovery
According to ICLEP, the Cuban regime permitted Valle to process his humanitarian parole at the U.S. consulate in Havana on the condition that he leave the country. Currently, the couple is "recovering physically and psychologically" after spending nearly nine months in the United States, as Frómeta explained.
Their attorneys hope that initiating the political asylum process might suspend the self-deportation order, though Frómeta acknowledged that they are facing a landscape of "heightened uncertainty."
Seeking Support and Advocacy
In their quest for support, the activist mentioned they have reached out to "several influential individuals." Their case has gained the attention of "congressmen and senators," as well as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and activist Rosa María Payá, founder of the NGO Cuba Decide.
Understanding the Asylum Process for Cuban Activists
What led Lázaro Yuri Valle Roca and Eralidis Frómeta to seek asylum in the U.S.?
The couple sought asylum after their humanitarian parole was revoked, and they were ordered to leave the U.S. They fear persecution if they return to Cuba.
Why is returning to Cuba dangerous for Valle Roca and Frómeta?
Returning to Cuba poses a significant risk due to their history of persecution by Cuban authorities, who may feel empowered to retaliate against them.
How are Valle Roca and Frómeta preparing their asylum case?
They are working with attorneys to draft the necessary documents for their asylum application, aiming to suspend the deportation order.