Related videos:
The Cuban activist and scientist Óscar Casanella shared on Wednesday the content of a letter to Santa Claus written by his oldest son, in which the boy requests "the first and most important thing": that his father be granted political asylum in the United States so he will not be deported.
In the letter, Pablo Casanella claims to have behaved well and studied, apologizes “if sometimes I play too much Minecraft and watch too many videos on YouTube” and requests as his second wish “a Lego set of the Antarctic explorer.”
The main request, however, is focused on the father's immigration situation: “please grant political asylum to my father so that he is not deported”, according to the shared text.
Casanella explained that the letter led him to publish a message directed to "family and friends," in which he states that he feels "very bad" for not having been able to provide his son with "safety, stability, peace, and joy."
In his account, he specifies that he focuses on his eldest son because he "lived in Cuba for several years" and because, now in the United States, he lives with the fear that his father's asylum may be denied and the family could be deported.
The activist attributes the child's emotional state to experiences in Cuba, where he claims to have witnessed episodes of repression, including assaults, arrests, and nights spent in jail for peaceful protests.
Casanella claims that his son was arrested along with him and his wife on April 23, 2021 by the "political police" with the assistance of the PNR, and he insists that there are public videos online regarding those events.
It also describes that in 2021 there was permanent surveillance in front of his house, with a patrol and agents, which—according to his account—restricted his ability to leave home during that time.
In his post, Casanella states that on December 10, 2025, it was "exactly four years" since he was able to leave Cuba with his wife and their first child in search of refuge.
Despite this, he states that the minor has not been able to stop feeling “anxiety, insecurity, worry, and stress” due to the fear of potential deportation.
The activist adds that "almost six months" have passed since their political asylum hearing, and they have still not received a response.
“How much more time will it take for my son to start feeling secure and fully enjoying his childhood?” the text asks.
The asylum hearing for Casanella in a Miami immigration court concluded without a verdict.
According to that information, the process lasted over six hours (from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.), and the judge set July 11 as the deadline to issue the written ruling.
In cited statements, Casanella said he wished for an immediate response, but that the judge needed time, and he added that he could only present "a minimal part of the pain" experienced.
Her lawyers described the trial as lengthy but fair, noting that the decision was postponed to review evidence and draft the formal ruling.
Casanella is a biochemist and former university professor in Havana, associated with the San Isidro Movement, with a history of surveillance, threats, and reprisals since 2013.
He crossed the southern border of the U.S. at El Paso, Texas, in January 2022, and received an I-220A document instead of parole, leaving him in a "legal limbo."
In his message, Casanella concludes with calls for "security and happiness" for Cuban children, respect for human rights, and freedom for political prisoners.
Filed under: