Young Cuban in the U.S. decides to self-deport and returns to the island

A 22-year-old Cuban man who is a beneficiary of humanitarian parole has decided to voluntarily return to Cuba out of fear of being deported from U.S. territory.

The young man, identified as Eric Dayan Corcho Aguilar, chose to self-deport because, after his work permit expired, he found himself without a job and fears being deported, according to the journalist from Univision, Javier Díaz.

Corcho Aguilar had been residing in the city of Denver, in the state of Colorado.

Without a clear path to legalization and fearing being arrested on the street and taken to a detention center, Eric decided that returning to Cuba was his only option.

His journey this Sunday will first take him to Miami, from where he will catch a final flight to Santa Clara, his hometown.

Before leaving, the young man gathered some money and packed his belongings in the hope of rebuilding his life in Cuba.

His case has raised alarms about the misinformation that many immigrants suffer in cities like Denver, where the lack of resources and guidance exacerbates the distress of those facing complex immigration processes.

Is self-deportation a valid alternative in the face of uncertainty and lack of information?

More than a thousand comments in just three hours reflect a diversity of emotions and perspectives on the difficult decision many Cuban migrants face regarding the new immigration measures in the United States.

Several users emphasize the importance of family and roots, highlighting that despite the economic hardships in Cuba, emotional support and the warmth of loved ones are invaluable.

"The family will always be waiting for you," noted one comment, while others insisted that "money isn't everything" and that the dignity of returning on your own terms is preferable to the humiliation of deportation. "My child, your family will always wait for you and embrace you with strength, sharing the little we have, but with much love. Never doubt returning home"; "It's better to be where you are wanted, with little, than in paradise where you are not wanted"; "Here with your family, you may eat a sweet potato, but with peace and tranquility," some expressed.

However, many described the decision as hasty or thoughtless. Some users recall the harshness of the economic situation on the island and the loss involved in leaving behind the sacrifices made to emigrate.

"I can't imagine that this is the right decision... I would rather be trapped in the U.S. than live with so much misery here in Cuba; 'I would say that coming back is like being dead'; 'Let him not come back, let's see what happens. Not everything is going to be bad. It's worse to return to this country after no one knows the effort it took to leave,' others pointed out."

There were also those who questioned the lack of information or the ignorance of legal options that could have prevented the return.

In general, feelings of sadness, empathy, and understanding prevail towards those who decide to return to the island before facing forced deportation.

The debate has also become polarized around the figure of the U.S. president, whom several readers blame for the uncertainty and fear experienced by migrants, while others believe that immigration decisions are part of a broader and more complex context.

Overall, the comments reflect a community divided between resignation, criticism, and solidarity, with a shared concern: the anguish of Cubans seeking a better future and the barriers they encounter along the way.

Frequently asked questions about self-deportation and the immigration status of Cubans in the U.S.