The Cuban regime has once again showcased its brutal nature by denying entry to Pastor Alain Toledano Valiente, who is desperately trying to be with his eldest daughter, Susana, aged 35, suffering from advanced breast cancer. The religious leader, who has been living in exile in the United States since 2022, claims that authorities consider him a "threat to State Security," thereby preventing him from boarding flights to the island.
"Every Cuban has the right to be in their homeland and, if they leave, to return whenever they wish. No ruler has the right to strip a citizen of this privilege," Toledano stated in an interview with Martí News. The pastor, who endured over twenty years of harassment by State Security due to his leadership in the Apostolic Movement—a Christian Protestant network not officially recognized—fled with his wife and two younger daughters following relentless pressure from the regime.
Susana received her devastating diagnosis shortly after her father's departure. Currently, she is facing significant health challenges and requires another surgical procedure. "My desire is to return to Cuba to be by her side, to support her, to be there and look after her health," Toledano expressed, fearing for his daughter's life given the deficiencies of the Cuban healthcare system.
Despite having no pending legal cases on the island, Toledano's lawyer in Cuba informed him that he is prohibited from entering. "The regime declares that I am a threat to State Security," he lamented. Recently, he was even blocked from attending a close cousin's funeral.
International human rights organizations have condemned the Cuban government's decision. Anna Lee Stangl, Director of Advocacy at Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), urged President Miguel Díaz-Canel and Interior Minister Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas to immediately lift the ban preventing the pastor from returning home on humanitarian grounds.
The Cuban regime has established a systematic policy of "forced exile" against critical voices, using travel bans as a means of punishment and control. In 2022, art curator and activist Anamely Ramos was barred from boarding a flight to Cuba, despite having a valid ticket and documents. She reported that "they won't let me return to my country because they're afraid of what I might say inside."
Similar situations have been reported by siblings Omara and Ariel Ruiz Urquiola. Omara, an activist and university professor, was banned from entering Cuba after publicly denouncing human rights and healthcare issues. Despite battling cancer, she has been forcibly separated from her family, drawing sharp international criticism.
Meanwhile, her brother Ariel, a biologist and activist, was jailed and later allowed to leave the country following a hunger strike. From exile, he has exposed the regime to entities like the UN and has been punished with a reentry ban.
These actions violate Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which affirms every citizen's right to return to their country. Such practices are especially outrageous in a regime that presents itself as a defender of rights before international bodies, including the United Nations, while continually breaching them. Organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have condemned this as a form of transnational repression.
Frequently Asked Questions on Cuba's Travel Restrictions
Why was Pastor Alain Toledano Valiente denied entry to Cuba?
Pastor Toledano was denied entry because the Cuban authorities label him as a "threat to State Security," preventing him from returning to the island.
What health issues is Susana, Pastor Toledano's daughter, facing?
Susana is suffering from advanced breast cancer and is in need of another surgical procedure due to complications with her health.
What is the stance of international organizations on Cuba's travel bans?
International human rights organizations have condemned Cuba's travel bans as a form of repression and called for an immediate lifting of such prohibitions, particularly on humanitarian grounds.