Related videos:
A post by the United States Embassy in Havana has sparked a wave of visceral reactions among Cubans.
The dissemination of the call for applications for the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program 2025–2026, a professional training initiative at U.S. universities, has been met not only with interest but also with a wave of frustration, disappointment, and even outrage from citizens who feel ignored, excluded, and betrayed by the current immigration policies of Washington.
“Are you a skilled professional with a passion for service and a desire to make a positive change in your community? Then this opportunity is for you!”, enthusiastically announced the diplomatic mission on Facebook.
The publication highlights that the goal of the program is to "develop the leadership capacities" of participants in collaboration with professionals from around the world, and that the scholarship covers studies in the United States for one year.
The deadline for applications is August 31, 2025.
However, what could be a reason for hope in another context was perceived more as a mockery in the current migratory landscape of Cubans.
Many users do not question the value of the program, but they do question the double standard with which -they claim- other legal pathways for traveling to the U.S. are addressed, such as family reunification or the visa lottery.
A disenchanted community: “They are causing us a lot of harm”
The most common comments highlighted the pain of prolonged family separation, caused by the ongoing proclamations and restrictions of the so-called “Travel Ban”, which affects beneficiaries of preferred categories in reunification processes.
“Please, we need justice for the family reunification categories; this travel ban is causing us a lot of harm,” wrote a user, with the tags #noaltravelban and #reunificacionfamiliar.
Other comments reflected years of accumulated frustration:
“It’s very hard. Nine years waiting for our children. Doing everything legally. And we are American citizens. And because our children are adults, they are still our children. Lives put on hold”, shared another Cuban, who accompanied her statement with the hashtag #SOMOSFAMILIANOTERRORISTAS.
"Punished for being legal": outrage multiplies
The general reaction reveals a shared sentiment among dozens of users: the feeling of paying a high price for having followed legal avenues.
“No more Travel Ban for thousands of families. After having gone through an interview, we are still waiting. We raise our voices”, exclaimed Ivonne Zapico.
“#f2punishedforbeinglegal”, several users repeated, sharing similar experiences of extended waiting, completed interviews, and denials with no further explanation than a still-existing proclamation.
Others were even more emphatic in their accusations against the authorities:
“The US embassy in Havana is lying. Thanks to Marco Rubio, they are betting on separating families. All the lottery winners were denied visas. It’s all a lie,” wrote another commenter.
Mixed reactions and a climate of confrontation
The announcement of the scholarship also sparked ideological confrontations. One user wrote sarcastically:
"If they are accepted, there is only one subject: ideological subversion," which provoked a wave of responses, including one from Ignacio Vidal: "I wish I were selected; I'd even be the one teaching the classes on subversion for free."
The criticism did not only arise from disillusionment; there were also those who mocked the protesters, which further intensified the digital conversation. Comments like “I don't want to study anything, I just want to leave” made it clear that for many Cubans, this call does not address the urgent need to emigrate nor does it represent a real alternative.
What does the Humphrey Program offer?
Despite the digital storm, it is worth mentioning that the scholarship remains a prestigious and competitive opportunity. The requirements include:
-Have a university degree.
-At least five years of professional experience.
- Proficiency in English.
-Show leadership and commitment to public service.
-Having limited prior experience in the U.S.
There is no age limit, although those under 30 must demonstrate maturity to complete a self-directed program.
The fields of study cover areas such as economic development, public administration, education policy, natural resources, technology, and more.
Between opportunity and indifference
The reaction to this announcement revealed an open wound: the contradiction between the rhetoric of cooperation and the effects of restrictive policies. For many, the announcement felt like a mockery in light of the ongoing silence regarding family reunification and the visa lottery.
"I never wanted my children to come through the border. I don't think they should do this to us now. Please, God help us," lamented a user, encapsulating the feelings of many.
In summary, the Humphrey scholarship can be a "opportunity to create positive change", as the announcement states, but it has exposed the emotional and political chasm that separates Cubans from the real possibility of reuniting with their loved ones.
Filed under: