Daniela Patricia Ferrer Reyes, seven years old and daughter of the leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba and political prisoner José Daniel Ferrer, is in a migratory limbo in the United States and must present a political asylum case before the court by November.
The girl, after entering the U.S. through the border in 2022, obtained a document I-220A, an “Order of Supervision” given to immigrants while they await a resolution of their immigration case, and now she risks being deported back to the Island, where her father is constantly harassed by State Security.
The mother of Daniela, Liettys Rachel Reyes, an activist from UNPACU, told journalist Carla Gloria Colomé for the newspaper El País that the girl appeared before the Immigration Court in Dallas (Texas) on March 31st.
In court, the judge requested an explanation as to why the girl entered through the border and why she had been taken out of Cuba.
“Just as they let me speak, I was interrupted about six times,” she recounted. “If the judge was strong, the translator was even stronger. She would say: ‘Ma'am, please, speak slower, I can't understand you, I need you to be concise, precise in what you're saying.’ They pushed me hard against the wall. I can't explain what I felt when they started questioning me so much, back and forth, not allowing me to explain everything that the girl went through in Cuba.”
Although the judge insisted to the mother that the girl is in the United States illegally and must choose a "deportable country" for her daughter, Liettys refused: "I do not agree that my daughter should be deported to any country, because she is a child," she said, recalling the harassment that mother and daughter experienced in Cuba for being the wife and daughter, respectively, of José Daniel Ferrer.
The authorities determined that the young girl has until November to gather evidence, present a political asylum case, and appear a second time in court with a lawyer to defend her.
However, the girl is only seven years old: "She cannot defend herself in an asylum case in court," said Reyes, who is appealing to the international community to help find a lawyer to represent her.
In a video shared on social media and disseminated by the leader of UNPACU, Ferrer requested help to resolve the case of his daughter.
" My beloved daughter Daniela Patricia Ferrer Reyes had no choice but to go out with her aunt to reunite with her mother, my ex-partner, a comrade in struggle and friend Liettys Rachel Reyes. I was in prison. The girl was a victim of harassment against the entire family, and her mother was far away. The only option was to take her to the United States," commented José Daniel Ferrer on Facebook.
Daniela left the country with Liettys' sister, Lianay Reyes Tur, when she was 35 weeks pregnant.
The parents of the little girl fear she will be deported to Cuba, where she will be "constantly threatened and oppressed in school by the teachers themselves."
Frequently asked questions about the case of Daniela Patricia Ferrer Reyes and the situation of José Daniel Ferrer
Why is Daniela Patricia Ferrer Reyes in a migratory limbo in the United States?
Daniela Patricia Ferrer Reyes is in a migratory limbo because, after entering the U.S. through the border in 2022, she received a Supervision Order (I-220A) and must file a political asylum case before November in immigration court.
Why does Daniela's mother, Liettys Rachel Reyes, oppose her deportation?
Liettys Rachel Reyes opposes the deportation of her daughter because she fears for her safety in Cuba, where both mother and daughter have been victims of harassment due to their relationship with José Daniel Ferrer, a well-known opponent of the Cuban regime.
What is José Daniel Ferrer's role in his daughter's current situation?
José Daniel Ferrer has publicly expressed his support for his daughter and his ex-partner, commenting on social media about the harassment they experienced in Cuba and justifying Daniela's departure to the United States as a necessity for family protection.
What actions has the international community taken regarding the case of Daniela and her family?
Various international actors, including U.S. Senator Rick Scott, have expressed concern for the situation of José Daniel Ferrer and his family, showing support and denouncing political repression in Cuba, which could impact Daniela's asylum case.
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