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Maria’s Story: A Family’s Stand for Freedom

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Maria’s Story: A Family’s Stand for Freedom

Maria* never expected that signing a petition would change everything. Over 20 years ago, she and her husband added their names to a movement calling for greater freedom in Cuba. That single act of conscience marked them as counter-revolutionaries in the eyes of the Cuban Communist Party.

The consequences followed swiftly. “Signing the [petition] really marked us and then blocked many professional opportunities, all kinds of doors closed,” Maria explains. She and her husband refused to participate in mandatory government celebrations or join the party, staying firm in their beliefs despite constant pressure to conform.

“Then I had a moment where I strongly defended my rights, and they took me to a police station. Right away, there were 10 people threatening me with death, the President of the People’s Power, the head of Provincial Security, police, they all threatened me and my children,” Maria described.

The harassment intensified after they protested on social media. In Cuba, being labeled as opposition could mean disappearance or an “accidental” death. Every time Maria rode her motorbike with her husband, she worried a car might deliberately hit them.

Their children paid the price too. One had to abandon their university studies after two years of working to gain admission. The younger son left his high school studies, sports, and teammates behind.

With money borrowed from Maria’s sister, the family arrived in Trinidad and Tobago in 2022. “We arrived normally on a Caribbean flight as tourists, went through immigration, and said, ‘We’re on this side now,’ but we always planned to apply for asylum urgently.”

Life in Trinidad brings both relief and uncertainty. “I go to MASI (the supermarket), and I don’t feel anyone watching me or checking my bag when I leave. I can eat beef without any problem or fear of going to jail. We can go wherever we want without any problem.”

But without legal status, deportation looms as a constant threat. “If they deport us, we’re at great risk,” Maria says. “Deportation would mean returning to Cuba… Prison, my children disappearing, accidental deaths, and that would be serious.”

Resettlement would mean stability, the chance for her children to resume studying, and most importantly, freedom without the uncertainty of being sent back. To help make this a reality, RefugePoint staff in Trinidad and Tobago interviewed Maria and her family to document their story and the persecution they fled. Our Resettlement Expert submitted their case to a resettlement country for consideration, advocating for the family’s needs and safety. This process can take years, but is a crucial step in a successful resettlement case.

“If we get resettled, it would be a great blessing from God because it would mean starting a new life without the terror of deportation, experiencing freedom, opportunities to study for them without the harassment and persecution, without being marked.”

For now, Maria and her family are waiting and hoping for that new beginning.

* Name changed for protection purposes.