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Iván Rodríguez Ponce speaks with a shaky voice, as if he is still trying to come to terms with what happened. He is 33 years old and was deported from the United States to Cuba on August 30, the same country he fled in search of protection.
“I lost everything I worked for in three and a half years. Now I'm here with nothing, without documentation, the police following me… I feel like I was born anew”, he confessed in an interview with Telemundo.
His story is a living portrait of the drama faced by hundreds of Cubans who arrived in the United States with hopes for a different future and today return handcuffed to the island.
Iván claims that he did not sign any documents, that he was taken onto the plane handcuffed, without being told where he was being taken. He discovered he was returning to Havana only when he was already in the air. “They put me on a plane handcuffed, without me knowing where they were taking me,” he recounted.
During his stay in the U.S., he managed to obtain a work permit and earned a living as a maintenance engineer. He had put down roots in Austin, Texas, where he was trying to rebuild his life after escaping a regime he described as authoritarian. But everything fell apart when he was detained for five months and ultimately deported. "All my sacrifice, everything I had, I lost it all,” he lamented.
Facebook/Iván Rodríguez Ponce
Even harder for him is returning undocumented. As he recounted, U.S. immigration authorities took his papers, and now he feels "undocumented in Cuba," vulnerable in front of a system he knows well and from which he tried to escape. "With all the evidence and documentation, I applied for political asylum, but they denied everything to me," he explained.
Facebook/Iván Rodríguez Ponce
His story is part of the latest deportation flight from the United States, regarded as the most publicized to date, in which over 150 Cubans were returned to the island.
Although the Ministry of the Interior in Havana only spoke of a "compliance with migration agreements," testimonies gathered by international media reveal a different story filled with tears, handcuffs, and broken families.
Amidst the largest migratory wave in the history of Cuba, stories like that of Iván reflect the experiences of men and women who bet everything, risk their lives, and ultimately return empty-handed to the same country they left.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Deportation of Cubans from the U.S. to Cuba
Why was Iván Rodríguez Ponce deported from the United States to Cuba?
Iván Rodríguez Ponce was deported from the United States to Cuba after his application for political asylum was denied by U.S. immigration authorities. Despite having worked legally and established a life in Austin, Texas, he was detained for five months before being sent back to Cuba. His deportation occurred as part of a migration agreement between both countries.
How does deportation affect Cubans returning to the island?
Deported Cubans face numerous challenges upon returning to their homeland. Many feel undocumented and vulnerable, as they often return without documents and under the watch of local authorities. Furthermore, they must reintegrate into a society in economic crisis and, in many cases, rebuild their lives from scratch after having left everything behind in search of a better future.
What changes in U.S. immigration policy have led to an increase in the deportation of Cubans?
Since Donald Trump's return to the presidency, his administration has implemented a policy of mass deportation aiming to expel a million people per year. This has included the elimination of programs that protected Cuban migrants, such as the preferential status that allowed them to obtain legal residency more rapidly. These measures have increased the number of deportations of Cubans, who now face an uncertain future both in the U.S. and in their home country.
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