Cubans summoned to the U.S. Embassy in Havana to request humanitarian visa for Damir

The Cuban activist Yamilka Laffita, known on social media as Lara Crofs, has called for people to gather this Wednesday at the United States Embassy in Havana to request a humanitarian visa for the child Damir Ortiz Ramírez, whose health condition has worsened in recent days.

Lara called on her fellow countrymen to gather today at 10:00 am in the public area next to the diplomatic mission, to plead for the acceleration of her case and to be granted an expedited visa to travel to the United States, where there is a hospital ready to care for Damir, who suffers from type 1 neurofibromatosis and has a plexiform neurofibroma in his right eye.

"Eliannis [the child's mother] is desperate, she can't take it anymore," Lara stated in a live stream on Facebook, adding that the child "is in a critical condition."

The activist pointed out that the idea is to demonstrate outside the American embassies to support the boy and his mother, so that they do not feel alone.

"Anyone who wants to get there and support us is more than welcome; it is a peaceful demonstration where we are simply going to ask the American embassy to grant us a visa for Damir," he said.

"This afternoon, an email was sent stating that the child is on a list for urgent cases. Unfortunately, Damir doesn't have time to be on any list; he is getting more delicate with every passing second," she explained.

The demonstration will be completely peaceful. The idea, the activist emphasized, is not to create a scandal or anything aggressive, but to convey the immediacy and urgency of getting the child out of Cuba.

On the other hand, the idea is to do the same in Miami, where Cubans have been called to seek assistance at the office of Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, located at 8669 NW 36th St, Suite 100, Doral, 33166.

The activist Diasniurka Salcedo Verdecia, who resides in the United States, criticized her government's attitude towards Damir and his mother in a livestream, and asserted that since February 14th, the authorities of that country have all the necessary information to provide a positive response.

"Here, everyone is guilty and responsible for what happens to Damir. The regime for being a son of a bitch, a murderer, a criminal, a liar, a mobster, for everything. And those here, for not responding promptly, because we have provided more than enough evidence for you to make a statement today, February 25. And you have not done so," he questioned on Facebook.

Diasniurka showed on her phone the latest images of the little one, which reveal the serious deterioration he is experiencing.

Until now, the U.S. Embassy in Havana maintains the denial of the humanitarian visa that was requested for the 10-year-old boy. In its latest response, on Friday, February 22, it reaffirmed that, as communicated on February 6, when the visa was requested, both Damir and his mother are "ineligible."

"In the document provided to you at the end of your interview, you were informed that both of you were declared ineligible for a non-immigrant visa under Section 214(b) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act, which means you were unable to demonstrate that the purpose of your trip to the United States is consistent with the classification of the non-immigrant visa you applied for," argued the diplomatic mission.

As an alternative, the consular office suggested applying for humanitarian parole, which must be requested and approved in the United States by the authorities of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

U.S. officials in Havana informed Eliannis Ramírez, the child's mother, that the Embassy in Cuba only gets involved in the final phase of the process with the interview and the delivery of travel documents to the beneficiary.

Damir's family had arranged for a humanitarian visa to move him to U.S. territory to receive specialized treatment at a hospital in Miami that is not available on the Island.

Despite having managed the procedure and starting a GoFundMe campaign to raise $40,000 intended to cover medical and travel expenses, the minor still cannot leave the country.

To obtain the visa, it was necessary to have an authorization letter from the Ministry of Public Health of Cuba (MINSAP).

However, according to reports from the mother and activists, the MINSAP refused to provide the requested documentation, arguing that Cuba has the necessary resources to treat the minor.

Diasniurka has explained that there is still a possibility that the application submitted on February 14 from the United States will be approved. She revealed that immigration confirmed that they recognize the case as urgent, but despite that, there has been no response.

Damir, currently hospitalized in the intensive care unit of the Juan Manuel Márquez Pediatric Hospital in Havana, with kidney damage and inflammation in both eyes, has endured the health crisis in Cuba for years.

His case came to public attention in August 2023 after his mother reported the serious health situation. She has fought at every possible level to have the child operated on, but the response from the doctors has not arrived.

According to Cuban neurosurgeons, the child's tumor has spread to inoperable areas of the brain.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Damir Ortiz Case and the Health Situation in Cuba