A Cuban known as El Potro survived eleven days at sea, lost among giant waves, hunger, and dehydration, convinced he would never see his children again. His journey, recounted on the YouTube channel Mario Aliesky TV, reveals the harsh reality of the shattered dreams of thousands of Cubans who venture into the sea in search of a better future.
On January 1, 2023, he quietly left Pinar del Río along with ten men and one woman on an improvised nine-meter raft. No one in his family knew anything. They carried cookies, peanuts, and a few gallons of water as their only luggage.
For the first four days, the wind pushed them toward Mexico, but on the fifth day, everything changed. The wind shifted, the storm battered the vessel, and they were left adrift.
“I thought that was my end. I would look at the photos of my children on the phone and cry in secret”, he recalled. With minimal rations of water, a small cup for two people per day, and a cracker per person, they endured under the sun and the salt, burned and without strength. “The captain told us: either a boat picks us up or we all die”.
The miracle came on the eleventh day. A Finnish ship spotted them and, after hours of waiting, brought them on board. “When the ship's horn sounded, we all cried like never before. They saved our lives,” said the Cuban, who received food, medical attention, and the relief of being alive.
But the dream of reaching the United States ended in a migratory limbo. After being handed over to the authorities in New Orleans, he spent seven months in detention at immigration centers. “During the first month, I experienced immense hunger, just instant soup. If it weren't for a friend who sent me money, I don't know what I would have done”.
He tried to defend his asylum case in three hearings, but without family in the U.S. or sufficient support, he was deported on August 22, 2023. “Even if you don't sign, they'll still put you on the plane”, he explained. He returned to Cuba on a flight with 73 other deportees.
The reunion with her mother and children was filled with tears. "Imagine seven months without seeing them; I thought I would never hold them again." Nevertheless, she assures that she will never again risk her life at sea. "If I leave Cuba, it will be legally, because my children and my mother do not deserve to suffer again what I went through."
His story reflects the desperation and shattered hopes of so many Cubans who see emigration as the only escape. "My dream remains to give my children a better future", he confessed, with his gaze fixed on a horizon he still hopes to reach, but this time without rafts, storms, or secret goodbyes.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuban Migration and Deportations
Why did El Potro decide to risk his life at sea to reach the United States?
El Potro, like many other Cubans, took to the sea driven by the desperation to find a better future for his children. The economic and social situation in Cuba is critical, leading many to make extreme decisions in search of opportunities in other countries.
What was the outcome of El Potro's journey?
El Potro and his companions were rescued by a Finnish ship after eleven days adrift. However, their dream of reaching the United States was cut short when they were detained by immigration authorities and ultimately deported back to Cuba.
What impact do current immigration policies have on Cubans?
Current immigration policies, especially under the Trump administration, have tightened the process for Cuban migrants. Many face deportations and severe restrictions, such as the removal of humanitarian parole and the suspension of family reunification.
How does deportation affect Cuban families in the U.S.?
Deportation tears families apart, leaving many Cubans in a state of vulnerability and distress. The case of El Potro is an example of how these policies create family separation and a deep uncertainty about the future for those seeking a better life outside of Cuba.
What options do Cubans have to emigrate legally to the U.S.?
Despite the restrictions, Cubans can choose legal avenues such as political asylum, the Cuban Adjustment Act, or family reunification, although these processes are lengthy and often uncertain due to changes in immigration policies.
Filed under:
