A trip to Cuba for a family emergency turned into a nightmare. Two Cubans were robbed at gunpoint in the town of Santo Domingo, Villa Clara, and stripped of their Cuban passport and green card, essential documents needed to return to the United States.
The incident occurred on the night of January 14, 2026, around 10:00 p.m., when the victims, a father and uncle of a young woman who provided her testimony, were arriving at a relative's house. According to the account, two men had been following them in another vehicle. Upon getting out of the car, they were threatened with a gun, a shot was fired into the air, and within seconds, they were stripped of a gold bracelet and their rental car was stolen along with all the documents inside.
The family had traveled to the island for a desperate reason, as they have a relative who is "between life and death." In order to get around between Santa Clara and Santo Domingo, to bring food, medicine, and to address what the system does not guarantee, they had rented a car. It was precisely in this context of urgency and vulnerability that the assault occurred.
Given the seriousness of the situation, journalist Mario J. Pentón consulted immigration attorney Mayron Gallardo, who explained what a permanent resident should do if they lose their green card while in Cuba.
Gallardo pointed out that the first step is to contact the United States Embassy in the country where the person is located. In these cases, he indicated, one should request a document known as a boarding foil, an I-551 stamp that is placed in the passport and serves as a temporary permission to board a flight and re-enter the United States as a permanent resident.
To obtain it, he explained, it is necessary to apply online using form I-131A, pay the corresponding fee, which he mentioned is around 575 dollars, although it may vary, and then attend an appointment at the embassy, where the stamp is issued. A key detail is to have a copy or photo of the stolen or lost green card, as it facilitates the process.
The problem worsens when, as in this case, the Cuban passport also goes missing. The lawyer was clear: before any other procedure, the person must renew the Cuban passport, as without that document there is no place to affix the stamp that would allow for their return.
Gallardo also warned about another important risk. If a permanent resident anticipates being outside the United States for more than six months, they must take precautions to avoid jeopardizing their immigration status, something that is often overlooked when the stay in Cuba extends due to family reasons or force majeure.
Both the lawyer and the journalist stressed a recommendation that is becoming increasingly common: to avoid carrying the green card and passport on you in Cuba, unless it is strictly necessary.
Pentón recalled that this is not the first time he has documented cases in which, after a home burglary, victims have even been extorted.
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