Once a prominent figure in Cuba's Unión de Jóvenes Comunistas (UJC), Yuniel Báez Pedrera has resurfaced in a surprising new role: a business owner in Gainesville, Florida. According to journalist Mario J. Pentón from Martí Noticias, Báez Pedrera arrived in the United States in September 2022. This shift marks a growing trend among former communist officials seeking fresh starts away from the island and its political system.
From Ideological Leader to Southern Border Arrival
For years, Báez Pedrera served as the first secretary of the UJC in Havana, a familiar face in state-sponsored events and media. His speeches were firmly aligned with the Communist Party's ideologies, often opposing any systemic change. In 2013, he asserted, “While some bet on new generations of Cubans to overthrow our social system, we young people are integrating further into our revolutionary process.” In 2015, he emphasized that UJC members were the “soul of the nation,” coinciding with his election as the organization's top leader in Havana.
After arriving in the U.S. through the southern border on September 11, 2022, Báez Pedrera's public political persona faded rapidly. Sources revealed he sought political asylum and has since resided permanently in the U.S. His social media presence also underwent a transformation, erasing any content linked to his former alignment with Cuban propaganda.
Gainesville's New Business Scene: A Quiet Transition
Less than two years after entering the U.S., Báez Pedrera is now a registered entrepreneur in Florida. In April 2024, he and his wife, Yanisleidy Domínguez Peña, established Pa’La Familia LLC, a limited liability company based in Gainesville, Alachua County. Official documents from Florida's Department of State indicate the company provides “international package delivery, flight ticket sales, and document processing.” Additionally, their social media promotes the sale of “food packages for Cuba, including combos and family shipments.”
State records show the business was officially formed on June 4, 2024, and remains active. The company's registered address is where Domínguez Peña acts as the registered agent and manager, while Báez is listed as an “Authorized Member.” Despite its brief existence, the company lacks a FEI/EIN number and has yet to file annual reports.
Efforts by Martí Noticias to reach Báez Pedrera through business-associated numbers were met with a response from someone claiming the number was incorrect.
Silence as a Strategy: No Public Break with the Past
Notably absent from Yuniel Báez's new public profile is any mention of his political past. Journalist Mario J. Pentón observed that there is no public declaration marking a break with the Cuban regime. In fact, he has removed all public references to his political history, a common pattern among former regime officials settling in the U.S. This ambiguity has raised concerns among the exile community.
Community Reactions and Criticisms
Social media has been rife with criticism from Cubans who view Báez's new life in the U.S. as disrespectful to the exile community. Notably, boxer Yordenis Ugás expressed his disapproval, calling it a "disrespect to the exile" and highlighting what he perceives as profiteering from Cuban people's suffering. “This guy arrived in 2022 and already runs a food agency for Cuba... isn’t that strange?” Ugás remarked.
Ugás criticized the apparent silence of some exile sectors regarding such cases, suggesting that many focus on opposing activists and content creators while ignoring the arrival of figures linked to the Cuban government. “These are the ones to pursue and report,” he added.
He further condemned Báez Pedrera as a “communist rat turned capitalist entrepreneur,” accusing him of benefiting from the Cuban system and now profiting from the hardships it caused. Ugás urged the exile community to unite in denouncing such figures to have them deported back to Cuba.
A Troubling Pattern: Genuine Change or Ideological Camouflage?
Báez Pedrera's case is not isolated. It fits a growing pattern of former Cuban officials, some with repressive histories, settling in the U.S. and often concealing their pasts. Similar instances, including those involving prosecutors and judges from the July 11, 2021, protests, have been documented. The most notable case is that of Judge Melody González, whose asylum request was recently denied.
These occurrences have alarmed political sectors in South Florida, particularly Cuban-American congress members. They have urged the Trump administration and its successors to tighten immigration controls and prevent the entry or facilitate the deportation of former regime affiliates.
Yuniel Báez Pedrera's Transition and Community Response
Who is Yuniel Báez Pedrera?
Yuniel Báez Pedrera was a former leader of the Unión de Jóvenes Comunistas in Havana, Cuba, and is now a business owner in Gainesville, Florida.
What business does Yuniel Báez operate in Florida?
Yuniel Báez, along with his wife, operates Pa’La Familia LLC in Gainesville, Florida, offering services like international package delivery, flight ticket sales, and document processing.
How has the Cuban exile community reacted to Yuniel Báez's presence in the U.S.?
The Cuban exile community has expressed significant disapproval, with figures like boxer Yordenis Ugás criticizing Báez for his perceived lack of respect and profiteering from Cuban people's hardships.
Why is Yuniel Báez's silence on his political past significant?
Báez's silence and removal of references to his political past are seen as a common tactic among former Cuban officials in the U.S., raising concerns about their true intentions and alignment.