The attorneys Liudmila Armas Marcelo and Yelena Guerra from Guerra Law successfully had the Immigration Court dismiss the deportation proceedings against the independent Cuban journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada this Wednesday, putting an end to seven years of legal limbo for the communicator known for his project "Kuba x Dentro."
“WE WON,” announced Mayeta himself on his Facebook wall, without providing any details.
In statements to CiberCuba, Marcelo specified that they were able to dismiss the deportation charges, and the journalist is now free to apply for his residence with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Regarding what happened in the hearing, Guerra commented that the prosecutor was very aggressive, but that they were prepared for anything he might say to them.
"A very fair judge, she said: 'I don’t see why not.' And she granted the benefit we wanted, which was that today Mayeta would not face deportation and could go free, with the opportunity to pursue her status adjustment," Marcelo clarified.
Guerra then revealed the lesser news: "We were asking for a closure, but since there are various types of closure, we were asking for the most amicable one, the one we believed the judge would grant. But they surprised us by giving us even more, as they dismissed all charges completely, as if nothing had ever happened. The victory was double."
The final hearing took place this Wednesday after weeks of intense legal activity and urgent dealings with federal institutions. The immigration judge had denied the motion for postponement submitted by the defense on June 19, making the appointment unchangeable for July 1.
On Tuesday, Mayeta explained on Facebook that the hearing this Wednesday would be conducted virtually, and she expressed her gratitude once again for the extraordinary work of her lawyers.
"After months of uncertainty, sleepless nights, tears, prayers, and a struggle that many of you have experienced with me from the very first day, the time has come to face my final immigration hearing," she said then.
"I have learned that those who place their trust in God never walk alone. The path may have obstacles, but when He guides your steps, no battle is faced without hope," he emphasized.
The legal knot of the case began in 2019, when Mayeta arrived in the United States with a J-1 visa linked to a scholarship for his journalistic work. This immigration category, subject to section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, requires two years of residency in the country of origin or a waiver from the State Department before being able to apply for the Cuban Adjustment Act.
The problem worsened because, as revealed by lawyer Marcelo, Mayeta initially processed her application with a notary who did not complete the three necessary requirements: "She applied with a person who is not a lawyer; she applied with a notary. Therefore, this person did not fulfill these three requirements."
This resulted in the denial of her application for permanent residency and the transfer of the case to the Immigration Court, after the deadline for applying for asylum had already passed.
Since the end of 2024, Mayeta had also been awaiting the resolution of a pardon requested from the Department of State, which the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) had not processed by the date of the hearing.
Marcelo and Guerra took on the case pro bono on June 6, 2026. The strategy they presented to the court this Wednesday was to demonstrate in person that the delay was not attributable to Mayeta, but rather to the inaction of USCIS. "It's up to us to convince her that she hasn't been entirely responsible," Marcelo had anticipated.
In the weeks leading up to the hearing, Mayeta launched an intense campaign of efforts.
Attended the Capitol to deliver letters to the congressmen Mario Díaz-Balart, María Elvira Salazar, and Carlos Giménez, made an urgent appeal to Marco Rubio and presented himself at the Department of State in Washington D.C. with documents in hand.
The journalist, a member of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) since 2011, had publicly warned that a deportation would mean his immediate imprisonment in Cuba due to his opposition activism and his work documenting blackouts, repression, and corruption in Santiago de Cuba.
Marcelo had emphasized that Mayeta's profile made him particularly vulnerable: "If it were a case of asylum, we all know that Mayeta's history is almost equivalent to being granted asylum because he has substantial evidence and is a very well-known person, and the repercussions of him returning to Cuba are very much present."
When taking on her defense in early June, Mayeta expressed the relief that came from having specialized legal representation for the first time: “The battle is not yet won. But for the first time in a long time, I feel that I am not fighting this alone.”
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