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Cuban activists Lázaro Yuri Valle Roca and Eralidis Frómeta have begun the process of applying for political asylum in the United States, after the authorities informed them of the revocation of their humanitarian parole and the order to leave the country by April 24.
“We are already in contact with some lawyers and we are waiting for them to send us the document we need to draft for the asylum process. We have to try”, declared Frómeta this Monday to the agency EFE..
Frómeta, wife of independent journalist Valle Roca, stated that they are both trying to avoid a return to Cuba, from which they left in June of last year heading to Miami.
“If we are deported to the country where we have been persecuted for so many years, they (the Cuban authorities) will feel more entitled to attack us”, he warned.
According to their testimony, returning to the island would pose an "imminent danger" for both of them.
“They might not even let us board the plane. I don't think Cuba will welcome us,” added the activist, referencing other cases of Cuban dissidents who have been prevented from returning to the country after their departure.
Valle Roca has been imprisoned in Cuba since 2021, serving a five-year sentence for the alleged crime of continued enemy propaganda.
His health condition severely deteriorated in prison.
The sentence was condemned by the Cuban Institute for Freedom of Expression and the Press (ICLEP), Amnesty International, and the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH).
According to ICLEP, the Cuban regime allowed Valle to process his humanitarian parole at the United States consulate in Havana, on the condition that he would leave the country.
Currently, the couple is "recovering physically and psychologically" after nearly nine months in U.S. territory, as explained by Frómeta.
The woman specified that her lawyers expect that the initiation of the political asylum process may suspend the self-deportation order, although she admitted that they are facing a situation of "high uncertainty."
In an attempt to gain support, the activist noted that they have reached out to "several influential people." They have managed to get their case in front of "congressmen and senators," as well as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and activist Rosa María Payá, founder of the NGO Cuba Decide.
Frequently asked questions about the case of Cuban journalist Yuri Valle Roca and his asylum application in the U.S.
Why are Yuri Valle Roca and his wife Eralidis Frómeta seeking political asylum in the United States?
The couple is seeking political asylum to avoid being deported to Cuba, where they face "imminent danger" due to the political persecution they have suffered at the hands of the Cuban regime. Both are afraid that their return to the island would result in attacks or reprisals from the Cuban authorities.
What will happen to Yuri Valle Roca if he is deported to Cuba?
Returning to Cuba would pose a direct threat to his freedom and security, as he has been persecuted for his activism and previously imprisoned by the Cuban regime. His health condition has also deteriorated, which exacerbates the risks he would face on the island.
What are the implications of the revocation of humanitarian parole for Cubans in the U.S.?
The revocation of humanitarian parole means that thousands of Cubans, including Valle Roca, must leave the U.S. before April 24, 2025, unless they initiate a valid legal process, such as applying for asylum. Those who do not act may face expedited deportation.
What measures have Yuri Valle Roca and his wife taken to avoid deportation?
The couple has contacted lawyers to begin the process of applying for political asylum in the U.S. Additionally, they have sought support from influential individuals and congress members to have their situation reconsidered by U.S. authorities.
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