The dream of family reunification that drives so manyCubans to undertake long and complex migration processes to the United States has, for some, turned into a painful experience of frustration and despair.
Such is the case of Liadys Madrazo, who described to Telemundo 51 her experience with a phrase that encapsulates helplessness and disbelief: "We fulfilled our obligations and did it legally... and we are the ones being punished."
A legal path that leads to rejection
Liadys began the process of family reunification with the hope of bringing her parents to the United States, where she is already living legally.
Everything seemed to follow the course set by the immigration system: forms, interviews, and legal procedures completed meticulously. His mother, a homemaker, received immediate approval for her visa. But the story with his father was different.
At the age of 60, Liadys's father underwent an additional examination.
The reason was not a lack of documentation or a failure to meet requirements, but something much more structural: having worked in a Cuban state-owned company.
As part of the process, he was required to complete a form to clarify whether he had been a member of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC).
Fourteen months later, the family received an unexpected response: The visa was denied, despite the fact that their father was not a member of the Communist Party.
“He is my father. He is a man who has worked his entire life as a technician. He has never harmed anyone. He just wants to be with his grandchildren,” Liadys stated.
A pattern of exclusion
The case of the Madrazo family is not isolated.
According to immigration attorney Joana Soler from the law firm of renowned lawyer Willy Allen in Miami, at least seven Cuban families have recently been affected by similar decisions.
“We are talking about people who were simply exercising their profession in Cuba. They were not political figures, they were not doing propaganda… they were employees,” explains Soler.
The lawyer has identified a pattern in the denials: having a work history in Cuban state institutions, such as the Ministries of Health or Education, is seen as sufficient grounds to question the eligibility of applicants, even if they have not been members of the PCC.
The professions in question include doctors, nurses, teachers, and technicians, that is, public sector workers who performed essential roles within Cuban society.
The argument presented by U.S. immigration authorities to deny applications is the connection to the Cuban state apparatus, which can make an individual deemed inadmissible.
An incoherent system and emotional consequences
"The current immigration policy aims to be more organized and consistent. However, what has happened here shows just the opposite: inconsistency. These people are being treated as if they were a threat, simply for having worked in their country's state system," Soler denounces.
In response to these denials, some applicants receive guidance from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): to submit Form I-601, also known as the application for a waiver of inadmissibility.
However, this approach is not always viable or morally acceptable for those affected.
"To seek forgiveness means admitting that you have made a mistake," clarifies the lawyer.
"But if you filled out the forms honestly and stated that you were never a member of the Party, asking for forgiveness would be contradictory and could make it seem like you lied," he adds.
In light of this ethical and legal dilemma, Soler has chosen a different strategy: to present evidence supporting the professional and civic lives of his clients, emphasizing that being an employee of the Cuban state does not equate to being an active part of the political regime.
Professionals or political enemies?
The decisions of USCIS open up a profound debate about the scope of the criteria used to assess the eligibility of Cuban applicants.
In practice, working for the Cuban state— the only legally authorized employer for decades— has been unavoidable for millions of citizens.
Punishing someone for their professional past can, according to advocates for immigration rights, constitute a form of systemic discrimination.
This approach also contradicts the spirit of the family reunification program, which aims to provide legal and safe avenues for Cubans to reunite with their loved ones in the United States.
Hope as Resistance
As reconsideration forms are submitted and evidence accumulates in legal files, families endure a wait filled with uncertainty, pain, and shattered hopes. The emotional dimension of these processes, often overlooked, powerfully emerges in Liadys's words:
"We do not want privileges, only justice. We just want to be treated with humanity."
Stories like hers reveal the cracks in the immigration system, especially in contexts like Cuba, where state employment has long been the norm rather than a political choice.
At a historic moment when the United States is trying to redefine its policy toward Cuba, these rejections highlight the challenges that Cubans still face, even when they choose to comply with the law and pursue legal avenues.
So far, there is no official information on how many people might be involved in this case, but it is estimated that it could be around 200 individuals.
USCIS claims that it is at the discretion of the officers to accept or deny family reunification visas.
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