A Cuban family is experiencing intense anxiety over the potential deportation of Leslie Acosta Torres from the United States. She is the foster daughter of political prisoner Daniel Alfaro Fría and the mother of two young children.
According to reports from opposition members and family, Leslie is being held at an immigration center in Texas, awaiting a decision that could send her back to Cuba, where both her life and her children's could be in jeopardy.
From Guanajay prison, where he is serving a nine-year sentence for political reasons, Alfaro sent a desperate plea through his wife, Amelie Torres Campos, urgently seeking help to prevent the deportation.
"He is desperate, unsure of what to do. He fears for what might happen to his daughter and grandchildren if they are returned to Cuba," his wife stated in a video sent to CiberCuba.
The Impact of Repression on a Family
Daniel Alfaro Fría is among the numerous Cuban political prisoners who have been jailed for opposing the regime. Since his imprisonment, his family has consistently faced harassment and surveillance from authorities.
His daughter, Leslie Acosta, fled the island with her two young children after enduring years of persecution.
According to her husband, Gabriel Pérez Ortega, she had been threatened and harassed by the State Security due to her activism.
"My wife was a political target. If she returns to Cuba, her life and freedom are at risk. She's with our two children, and we are desperate. We just want her to stay in the United States, because if she goes back, she won't survive," Pérez Ortega expressed in a video.
Opposition's Plea: "Sending Her Back Would Be Unjust"
Opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer, recently deported to the United States after over four years imprisoned on the island, also called for support for the family.
In a video posted on the YouTube channel of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), Ferrer highlighted that Leslie's situation is causing Daniel Alfaro more suffering than the harsh conditions he endures in a prison in Artemisa.
"We need to support this young woman and her two children to ensure justice is served, and they are not sent back to Cuba, where they could face harassment, persecution, and in Leslie's case, even imprisonment," warned Ferrer.
"She was an activist in Cuba, with evidence showing she was harassed, pursued, threatened by repressive forces. She has a credible fear that if returned, she may fall victim to the regime's cruelty. She has made every effort to be heard at the migrant detention center where she is currently held," he explained.
The UNPACU leader urged Cuban lawyers and human rights organizations in the United States to intervene immediately to stop the deportation. He also appealed to the Cuban exile community to contact the detention center in Texas and demand Leslie's case be heard.
Political Silence Amid Deportation Risks
Leslie Acosta's case revives the discussion over the deportation of Cubans from the United States, particularly under stricter policies towards irregular migrants.
Even though many escape political persecution, U.S. authorities do not always acknowledge the genuine danger they face if returned to the island.
Human rights organizations emphasize that the Cuban regime severely punishes those it deems traitors or defectors.
The potential deportation of Leslie Acosta Torres and her children is especially symbolic: her father is imprisoned for political reasons, and her family has been persistently harassed by State Security for years.
In Cuba, there is no assurance of protection or freedom for relatives of dissidents, and retaliation often extends even to children.
As Alfaro remains confined in Guanajay, the fate of his daughter and grandchildren hangs in the balance of an immigration decision. Deportation would not merely be an administrative act; it would be a sentence of risk, fear, and persecution.
"It is crucial that we stand in solidarity with Daniel Alfaro Fría, a hero in the fight for Cuba's freedom and democracy who now needs our support in defending his daughter and grandchildren from being deported to Cuba. We owe it to Alfaro, we owe it to his family. He suffers in prison for all of us," José Daniel Ferrer concluded.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuban Deportation Concerns
What risks do Leslie Acosta and her children face if deported to Cuba?
If deported to Cuba, Leslie Acosta and her children could face persecution, harassment, and even imprisonment due to her past activism against the Cuban regime.
Why is Leslie Acosta being held at an immigration center in Texas?
Leslie Acosta is detained at an immigration center in Texas as she awaits a decision on her potential deportation back to Cuba, where she fears for her and her children's safety.