Complaints persist over the U.S. Embassy in Havana's refusal to grant visas to Cubans employed within the state-controlled economy. The embassy's stringent vetting process, aimed at curbing the emigration of communists, clashes with data from Cuba's National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI). This year, only 67 foreign companies and 9,751 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operate on the island, with the regime controlling everything else. As of early this year, 2,335,613 individuals are accounted for in the state sector workforce.
Amarilys Pérez, a Cuban with U.S. citizenship, has been affected by a decision that disregards the fact that a third of Cuba's population is tied to state employment. The country, closing 2024 with a population of 9.7 million (independent studies suggest closer to 8 million), also reports that 25.7% (2.4 million people) are over 60 years old.
In a letter to CiberCuba, Pérez condemns the U.S. Embassy's denial of an immigrant visa for her parents, citing alleged communist ties. She asserts these claims are "completely baseless." "My parents have never been members or supporters of any Communist Party," Pérez clarifies, emphasizing that their only connection to the Cuban state was employment. In Cuba, the state manages all formal employment, and working for survival should not be mistaken for ideological allegiance.
Pérez explains that the visa denial, issued on April 3, was based on section 212(a)(3)(D) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which bars entry to the U.S. for those associated with communist parties. She insists her parents have never engaged in political activities nor promoted ideas contrary to U.S. democratic values, as stated in a sworn affidavit. "This decision by the U.S. Embassy in Havana is not only unjust but also obstructs our right to family reunification, which we have sought legally. All their children are U.S. citizens," she emphasizes.
Following recent comments by Mike Hammer, the acting U.S. Embassy Chargé d'Affaires in Havana, acknowledging potential mishandling or unfair treatment in many cases, Pérez requests a thorough review of her parents' denied visa. "They have signed a sworn statement confirming they have never belonged to or supported any communist or totalitarian organization," she states.
Her case is not isolated. Another Cuban mother, choosing to remain anonymous, shared in writing to CiberCuba that she also faced an "unjust" visa denial. "I want to make it clear that I have never had, nor will I ever have, ties with the Communist Party of Cuba. I have been a Christian since 2018 and have evidence to support this," she declares. She notes that many Cuban families are experiencing similar situations, facing arbitrary actions without real justification, causing deep distress and frustration.
"We demand the truth about what is happening. We are not communists, and we will not remain silent. We will continue to raise our voices so the world knows what is really going on," they assert, voicing their dissatisfaction with how the issue is being addressed.
In a third letter to the platform, another affected individual explains, "This is the second time a citizen has been unjustly impacted by new measures at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, narrating the events and attempting to downplay the reality. I am one of the affected, and we are being accused of something we are not. Working within state entities is costing us dearly. In Cuba, there is no private property. Everything belongs to the state, even SMEs. I am an English teacher; I have never been, nor will I ever be, a communist, and this can be verified," the letter concludes.
The Statement from Mike Hammer
The complaints arise from the U.S. Embassy in Havana tightening its visa issuance controls for family reunification, applying U.S. immigration laws more rigorously. This measure aims to prevent the emigration of individuals with recent ties to the Cuban Communist Party (PCC) or state institutions, even if they are not active members.
During a Friday, May 23 press conference in Miami, Mike Hammer explained that the screening's goal is to prevent repressive individuals from enjoying liberties in the U.S. "We want to avoid seeing repressive figures walking down South Beach, sipping mojitos. That's not right, it's not fair," Hammer asserted.
The decision has stirred concerns among Cuban families who, despite meeting legal requirements, face rejected applications. Immigration lawyers in Miami confirm that dozens have been affected by these new policies, interpreted as exclusion based more on employment criteria than political ones.
Willy Allen, a Florida-based immigration attorney, described the visa denials at the U.S. Embassy in Havana as "troubling." "I believe there are individuals wrongly denied due to their previous jobs or suspicions of being Communist Party members," Allen commented during a CiberCuba program interview. "There must be a more decent way to investigate people without accusing or denying arbitrarily," he added.
Questions Regarding U.S. Visa Denials for Cubans
Why are Cuban state employees facing visa denials?
The U.S. Embassy in Havana is enforcing stricter immigration laws to prevent individuals with potential ties to the Cuban Communist Party from emigrating, although this affects many state employees who have no political affiliations.
What legal grounds are used to deny these visas?
Visa denials are based on section 212(a)(3)(D) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which prohibits entry to the U.S. for individuals associated with communist parties.
How are affected individuals responding to these denials?
Affected individuals, like Amarilys Pérez, are voicing their concerns publicly, demanding reviews of denied visas and asserting their lack of political affiliations through sworn statements.