José Daniel Ferrer Reveals Circumstances of Leaving Cuba: "They Took My House"

José Daniel Ferrer García, the Cuban dissident leader and founder of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), recently shared details about his forced departure from Cuba in an exclusive interview with CiberCuba. During the interview, he revealed the terms he set before agreeing to exile.

Ferrer recounted that in late June, Major Julio Fonseca from the State Security approached him with an offer to facilitate his exit from Cuba, should he be interested. "I agreed, stating I needed to embark on a new kind of struggle, but I presented certain conditions for leaving," Ferrer recounted.

Ferrer’s Conditions for Leaving Cuba

The opposition leader listed six demands he made of the regime:

• No charges for the alleged crimes the state accused him of, as he preferred imprisonment in Cuba over accepting unjust punishment.
• Finalization of his divorce from his first wife, from whom he had been legally separated for 13 years.
• The right to marry his current partner, Nelva Ismarays Ortega, without needing to sign a document affirming the "socialist legality."
• Delivery of Nelva's legally validated medical degree, which had previously been withheld for political reasons.
• Ensuring that the UNPACU houses in Altamira remained with activists of his choosing.
• Provision of passports for his wife, son, and himself, as his wife was "regulated" due to her profession and her relationship with him.

Ferrer disclosed that the regime declined several of these demands, notably the request regarding the UNPACU properties. "I told them I wouldn't leave unless they honored this. In the end, they took a house from me," he stated.

Struggles Over Property and Marriage

The Cuban authorities argued that the properties weren't registered under his name but were instead attributed to activists who had left the country. "They claimed the houses weren't legally mine and that allowing us to use them for five years was a generous act," Ferrer explained.

Eventually, Ferrer surrendered one house, but he emphasized it was a temporary measure. "It’s only for now because one day we will return to democratize Cuba and reclaim our modest properties," he affirmed.

He noted that two homes in Santiago de Cuba stayed with a former UNPACU political prisoner and his wife's relatives, who support the cause for Cuba's freedom, while the third was seized by the government. "They promised, documented it, that the house would serve social purposes in the community. I've learned that a couple now lives there, one of whom is the son of a MININT lieutenant colonel. That's their idea of 'social purpose,'" Ferrer remarked.

Regarding his marriage, Ferrer shared that he and Nelva refused to marry on dates proposed by the regime. "They suggested August 13 (the birthday of the late dictator Fidel Castro). Can you imagine? I wouldn't marry on August 13 or July 26. We decided to marry as we wish in Miami," he confirmed.

Exile and New Beginnings in Miami

On October 13, José Daniel Ferrer and his family arrived in Miami, having been exiled by the Cuban regime after enduring over four years of detention and harassment. Ferrer was welcomed at Miami International Airport by his wife, son, supporters, journalists, and Cuban-American Congressmen Carlos Giménez and Mario Díaz-Balart, who offered their support.

Ferrer’s exile marks the end of one of the longest episodes of political persecution in Cuba and highlights the oppression faced by dissidents. In a letter dated September 10, written from prison, Ferrer had already indicated he would only leave the country to protect his family while continuing his fight for freedom.

Now in the United States, José Daniel Ferrer has reaffirmed his dedication to advocating for democracy in Cuba, insisting his departure is not a surrender but a new chapter in the struggle for human rights.