Cuban activist denounces mass shutdowns of asylum cases in the U.S. without the right to appeal

The Cuban activist Salomé García Bacallao denounced the alarming wave of mass asylum application denials in the United States, many of which did not provide those affected the right to defend their case before a judge or the opportunity to appeal.

The situation is disproportionately affecting immigrants from Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, as detailed in a post on Facebook.

In a recent post, García Bacallao warned about the increase in official notifications titled "Notice of Dismissal of Form I-589," which imply the definitive closure of asylum applications without a judicial hearing or legal recourse.

"These individuals are now awaiting a date for a credible fear interview," he explained.

In many cases, applicants have been detained during routine immigration checks, without prior notice that their case was closed.

This situation can lead to immediate deportation or prolonged and indefinite detentions under precarious conditions.

The activist links this surge to a new immigration policy that she claims aims to increase arrests and deportations to reach a target of "3,000 people a day," a figure mentioned by influential Republican advisor Stephen Miller.

According to García Bacallao, this policy "has transformed administrative procedures into deportable offenses, even for minor infractions such as working without authorization or exceeding the duration of a visa."

It also reports that these measures have led to large-scale raids at workplaces and near schools, creating a constant state of vulnerability for immigrant communities.

Despite having legal representation and documentation that proves political persecution —including sentences for participation in the protests of July 11, 2021, in Cuba— many applicants from the island have received closure letters.

"I don't want to hear anyone say 'get yourself a good lawyer' again," García Bacallao expressed. "I know people with excellent legal representation who have also been equally rejected," he stated.

In parallel, Human Rights Watch has issued an urgent call to halt the deportation of 13 Cuban dissidents, including Eliexer Márquez "El Funky," co-author of the song Patria y Vida.

The organization views it as an abuse that the U.S. uses fabricated criminal records by the Cuban regime as a basis to deny protection to political prisoners.

García Bacallao emphasizes the need for an organized community response. “What we are experiencing will not be resolved on a case-by-case basis. This requires a collective and decisive reaction to prevent these violations from becoming normalized,” he stated.

He urged citizens, voters, and Cuban-American representatives not to remain silent.

"Going out into the street is not the only option. One can call Congress, demand respect for human rights, and put a stop to this authoritarian drift," he stated.

Finally, the activist warned about the imminent decision of the Supreme Court regarding the constitutionality of birthright citizenship in the U.S., a right guaranteed since 1898. If this principle is revoked, she cautioned, "millions of naturalized citizens could be at risk of being stripped of their nationality."

"I believe that our first duty is to rescue the democracy of Cuba, so that we can return and so that our people no longer have to keep escaping and we can have a dignified life there. But I can assure you, after living in several countries in irregular situations for 6 years, that resigning ourselves to that state of vulnerability will not help us at all in our purpose. The right to vote, and to freedom of expression and movement, and to due process, are worth defending," he concluded.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Mass Closures of Asylum Cases in the U.S. for Cubans and Other Immigrants