Two Cuban Migrants Find New Beginnings in the United States After Setbacks in Europe

The journey of many Cuban migrants is often fraught with uncertainty, resilience, and the determination to build a better life beyond the island. Such is the tale of one Cuban couple whose odyssey began in Europe with a denied asylum request in the Netherlands and eventually led them to the United States, realizing a dream that once seemed unattainable.

Through a TikTok video, user @el_pepe9o shared their experience, aiming to guide other migrants facing similar challenges. Initially, after seeking asylum in the Netherlands, both he and his wife were denied international protection. They were given a timeframe to exit the country voluntarily.

The couple had several options: appealing their case and staying in the Netherlands, living undocumented in Spain, or seeking opportunities on another continent. "They questioned why, if we disagreed with the Communist Party in Cuba, we didn't join another one. This made us realize not everyone understands that Cuba is under a dictatorship," he recalls, reflecting on their immigration hearings in the Netherlands, highlighting the skepticism they faced from European authorities.

Ruling out any real possibility of returning to Cuba, they chose the third option. Using a Mexican tourist visa obtained in 2017, they embarked on a new asylum process in the United States. Upon reaching the border, they encountered yet another challenging chapter, spending nearly two months detained in a Texas processing center while their application was processed.

"Those first two years were tough, as they are for most migrants. You know what it takes," he comments. Later, he made a pivotal decision by enlisting in the United States Army. This move not only showed his commitment to the country that welcomed them but also helped secure their legal status.

Now, with U.S. citizenship, a family of their own, and a YouTube channel where he assists other migrants interested in joining the military, he reflects on their journey with no regrets. Their story recently took another turn, bringing them back to Europe under different circumstances. Stationed in Italy as part of his military duties, they now live with their daughters, enjoying unrestricted travel across the continent like any European citizen.

"Life takes unexpected turns," he muses, grateful for every hurdle they overcame, convinced that "when one door closes, another opens."

In @el_pepe9o's account, their story begins in 2017, when, driven by rumors that the Netherlands was granting political asylum to Cubans, they decided to leave Cuba. They flew from Havana to Moscow, intending to transit through Amsterdam to seek international protection. However, upon landing at Schiphol Airport, they were detained, spending a week in custody while their identities were verified.

As recounted in a previous video, they were then moved between various refugee centers while awaiting their court date that would decide their future. On the day of their hearing, the train they were on broke down, causing them to arrive late and miss the appointment that could have changed their lives. Consequently, their asylum request was denied.

"We tried hard to integrate, learning the language, but it wasn't enough," the Cuban recounts, describing how, with only five euros, he and his wife shared a bottle of cider and some chocolates in a park, pondering their uncertain future.

In 2017, there was a notable increase in Cuban asylum applications in the Netherlands, prompting the Dutch government to impose a transit visa requirement for Cuban citizens starting January 2018. According to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the time, this measure aimed to curb abuses of the asylum system.