Complaints persist regarding visa denials for Cubans linked to the state economy in Cuba. The excessive scrutiny being conducted by the U.S. Embassy in Havana to prevent the emigration of communists clashes with data from the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI) of Cuba, which indicates that this year there are only 67 foreign companies operating on the Island and 9,751 small and medium-sized enterprises (Mipymes). Everything else is controlled by the regime. We are talking about a workforce of 2,335,613 counted in the state sector from January to March of this year.

The Cuban Amarilys Pérez, a U.S. citizen, is one of those affected by a decision that overlooks the fact that a third of the Cuban population is linked to state employment, in a country with 9.7 million inhabitants at the end of 2024 (independent studies suggest that the census barely reaches 8 million) and, notably, 25.7% (2.4 million people) are over 60 years old.

In a statement sent to CiberCuba, Pérez denounces the refusal of immigrant visas for his parents by the U.S. Embassy in Cuba, citing an alleged communist affiliation that he claims is "completely unfounded."

"My parents have never been members or collaborators of any Communist Party. Their only relationship with the Cuban state system was a professional one, as is the case for most Cuban citizens, since all formal employment in Cuba is managed by the State. Working to survive should not be confused with ideological militancy," he clarifies in a letter sent to this editorial office.

In his letter to CiberCuba, Pérez explains that the denial of the visa for his parents was issued on April 3rd, citing section 212(a)(3)(D) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which prohibits entry into the United States for individuals who have belonged to or collaborated with communist parties.

Amarilys Pérez asserts that her parents have never been involved in any political activities and that their only connection to the Cuban state apparatus has been through employment, as is the case in a country where formal jobs are controlled by the state. Additionally, she clarifies that they have never participated in political activities or promoted ideas contrary to the democratic values of the United States, and this, she adds, has been documented in a sworn statement.

"This decision (by the U.S. Embassy in Havana) is not only unjust but also hinders our family reunification, a right we have requested in accordance with the law. All of her children are U.S. citizens," she emphasizes.

Following the recent statements made by the Chargé d'Affaires of the American Embassy in Havana, Mike Hammer, in which he admitted that many cases could have been handled incorrectly or unfairly, Amarilys Pérez calls for a thorough review of the visa denial for her parents. "They have signed a sworn statement confirming that they have never belonged to or provided voluntary support to any communist or totalitarian organization," she says.

Her case is not an isolated incident. A Cuban mother who prefers to remain anonymous stated in writing to CiberCuba that her visa was also "unjustly denied." "I want to make it clear that I have never had, and will never have, ties to the Communist Party of Cuba. I have been a Christian since 2018 and have proof to back this up," she insists.

He also points out that he knows there are many more cases of Cuban families going through the same situation as his. "We are being affected arbitrarily, with no real justification, and that is causing profound pain and helplessness."

"We ask that the truth about what is happening be told. We are not communists, and we will not remain silent. We will continue to raise our voices so that the world knows what is really going on," they say, expressing their discontent with the way the issue has been handled.

And finally, there is a third letter sent to this platform that explains, "this is already the second time that a citizen unjustly affected by the new measures adopted at the US Embassy in Havana recounts what happened and they try to downplay the reality. I am one of those affected, and we are being accused of something we are not. Working in state entities is costing us dearly. In Cuba, there is no private property. Everything belongs to the State, even the small and medium-sized enterprises. I am an English teacher; I have never been, nor am I, nor will I ever be a communist, and that can be verified," she concluded.

The statement by Mike Hammer

The complaints arise from the fact that the United States Embassy in Havana has tightened the controls on the issuance of visas for family reunification, applying U.S. immigration laws more rigorously. This measure is intended to prevent individuals with recent ties to the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) or state institutions from emigrating, even if they have not been active members.

During a press conference in Miami, Mike Hammer explained on Friday, May 23, that the aim of this screening is to prevent people deemed oppressors from enjoying freedoms in the U.S. "We want to make sure that oppressors are not wandering the streets of South Beach, sipping a mojito. That cannot happen; it’s not right," Hammer stated.

The decision has raised concerns among Cuban families who, despite meeting the legal requirements, see their applications rejected. Immigration lawyers in Miami attest that there are dozens affected by these new policies, which are interpreted as a pattern of exclusion based more on employment criteria than political ones.

Consulted on the topic, lawyer Willy Allen, an immigration expert in Florida, described these visa denials at the U.S. Embassy in Havana as "concerning."

"I believe there are a number of people who have been wrongly denied because of the work they did or due to suspicions of having been members of the Communist Party," said Allen in response to a question from an internet user during the program this Monday on CiberCuba.

"I believe there must be a more decent way to investigate people instead of accusing for the sake of accusation and denying for the sake of denial," the expert added.