The Cuban opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer García left for Miami this Monday, October 13, along with his family, after a lengthy negotiation process that has resulted in his exile, as confirmed by his brother Luis Enrique Ferrer on social media confirmed.
"From Mar Verde prison to Santiago de Cuba airport. My brave brother is exiled. May our Lord accompany them on their flight to LIBERTY with the intention of continuing the fight until we achieve the long-deserved LIBERTY for all our POLITICAL PRISONERS and our beloved land," Ana Belkis Ferrer, sister of the opposition figure, also confirmed on social media.
"The Cuban regime released and exiled José Daniel Ferrer, leader of UNPACU. The opposition figure is now traveling to Miami, his family confirmed to Martí Noticias," journalist Mario J. Pentón also reported on social media.
The communicator added that a consular team from the United States Embassy in Cuba accompanied Ferrer and his family amid a significant deployment of political police agents.
The arrival of the founder of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) in the United States marks the end of one of the longest chapters of political persecution on the island and comes after more than four years of detention and harassment by the regime.
The departure of Ferrer was reported weeks after, in a letter dated September 10, 2025, the opposition figure confirmed his decision to accept exile as a measure to protect his family amid increasing pressures from State Security.
In that letter, disseminated from prison, he denounced the government's attempts to "discredit the fight for freedom" and to manipulate his case as part of potential negotiations between Cuba, the United States, and the Catholic Church.
"I am ready to die, but not to live without honor, without dignity," he asserted, describing a landscape of isolation, psychological torture, and political blackmail.
The international community had followed her situation with concern, pointing out the Cuban authorities for systematic human rights violations.
Ferrer’s forced exile symbolizes both the vulnerability of opposition figures within Cuba and the persistence of a struggle that the dissident will now continue from abroad.
José Daniel Ferrer García: The most persistent face of Cuban dissent
Born on July 29, 1970, in Palma Soriano, in the province of Santiago de Cuba, the name José Daniel Ferrer is closely linked to the political opposition against the Cuban regime since the 1990s, when he began to engage with pro-democratic groups such as the Christian Liberation Movement, led by Oswaldo Payá, and participated in the Varela Project, a civic initiative promoting legal reforms to expand civil liberties on the island.
Ferrer gained international notoriety in 2003 during the so-called Black Spring, a wave of repression in which the Cuban government imprisoned 75 activists, journalists, and opponents.
He was sentenced to 25 years in prison, accused of acting against state security.
During his imprisonment, he staged several hunger strikes and denounced inhumane conditions within Cuban prisons.
After eight years of confinement, he was released in 2011 under a provisional license, thanks to the interventions of the Catholic Church and the Spanish government.
Unlike other released political opponents at the time, Ferrer refused exile and chose to remain in Cuba to continue his activism.
The creation of UNPACU
In the same year 2011, he founded the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), an organization that sought to unify various dissenting groups under a common strategy of peaceful resistance.
From its base in eastern Cuba, UNPACU has become one of the most visible opposition platforms in the country, engaging in public actions, denouncing abuses, and supporting marginalized communities.
Over time, Ferrer came to be regarded as the main leader of the internal dissidence following the death of Oswaldo Payá.
His speech has emphasized the need for a peaceful transition to democracy, freedom of association, and amnesty for political prisoners.
Detentions, international campaigns, and constant persecution
Ferrer's leadership also made him one of the most frequent targets of state repression.
Since his release, he has been arrested numerous times, subjected to constant surveillance, and has been the target of official smear campaigns.
In 2019, he was arrested for several months on charges of assault, in a process widely condemned by international organizations as arbitrary and lacking guarantees.
His case generated a strong diplomatic response and led the European Parliament to demand his immediate release.
During the protests on July 11, 2021, Ferrer was arrested again and remained in prison for more than three years.
Various NGOs reported on their prolonged isolation and the deterioration of their health.
In January 2025, he was released on parole, but three months later, the authorities revoked that measure and sent him back to prison, citing a violation of judicial regulations.
The international community regarded that decision as a new example of political retaliation against critical voices within the country.
Recognition and Legacy
Throughout his career, Ferrer has received several international human rights awards, including the NED Democracy Award, the Homo Homini Award, and the Truman-Reagan Freedom Award.
Despite years of imprisonment, harassment, and visible physical deterioration, he maintains a strong stance against Cuban authoritarianism and has insisted that his struggle does not seek vengeance, but "the right of Cubans to live without fear."
For many inside and outside of Cuba, José Daniel Ferrer represents the enduring resistance against a system that has tried to silence him for over two decades, becoming one of the most visible - and punished - symbols of political opposition on the island.
Frequently asked questions about the exile of José Daniel Ferrer
Why was José Daniel Ferrer exiled from Cuba?
José Daniel Ferrer was exiled from Cuba as a result of a long negotiation process that included extreme pressure from the Cuban regime and the need to protect his family. The decision to accept exile was made to avoid further harassment and ensure the safety of his loved ones, amid a context of repression and human rights violations.
What does José Daniel Ferrer's exile symbolize for the opposition in Cuba?
The forced exile of José Daniel Ferrer symbolizes the vulnerability of dissidents within Cuba and the persistence of a struggle that will now continue from abroad. Ferrer has been one of the most visible and punished faces of the Cuban dissent, and his departure from the country highlights the systematic repression faced by those who oppose the regime.
How has the international community reacted to the case of José Daniel Ferrer?
The international community has watched with concern the situation of José Daniel Ferrer, pointing out the Cuban regime for systematic human rights violations. Organizations and governments have condemned his imprisonment and demanded his immediate release and respect for fundamental rights on the island. International pressure has been a key factor in the negotiations that culminated in his exile.
What role has UNPACU played in the opposition to the Cuban regime?
The Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), founded by José Daniel Ferrer in 2011, has been one of the most visible opposition platforms in Cuba, focusing on peaceful resistance, highlighting abuses, and supporting marginalized communities. UNPACU has played a crucial role in opposing the regime, unifying various dissident groups and promoting freedom of association and amnesty for political prisoners.
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