The head of the U.S. mission in Havana, Mike Hammer, expressed his profound admiration for the courage displayed by Cubans who, despite the risk of detention or harassment, choose to meet with him to share their realities.
During an interview with communicator Enrique Santos, Hammer recounted stories that evoke immense pain as well as deep respect for ordinary people who refuse to remain silent.
Santos inquired about the experience of visiting a home only to find out someone was detained just for agreeing to speak with him. Hammer's response was both direct and heartfelt:
"First, there's an immense pain. And yet, there's also the bravery of that 12-year-old boy who dared to say... who told me... 'Look, Mike, I was told by Vladimir to tell you that yes, he was detained,'" Hammer recounted.
Hammer explained that since he began traveling to various cities across the country, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned of legal consequences for anyone meeting with the diplomat. Undeterred, he chose to proceed.
"When I started my tours and MINREX issued a statement that anyone meeting with me could be detained or even jailed, I told my team: 'Many have asked me to visit.' On my first tour to Santa Clara, Camagüey, Trinidad, Cienfuegos... Not a single person, not one, canceled their visit with us," he shared.
Far from hiding, these citizens even requested that their stories be made public: "Everyone I met with asked me, 'please, share this on social media. Please, give us a voice. Let the world see our situation.'"
The diplomat acknowledged that every meeting carries significant personal weight, knowing that many who speak to him might pay a steep price afterward.
"It's a tremendous burden for me to visit people whom I know might be detained and imprisoned. But they ask me to. They tell me, 'Ambassador, don't worry... We see the need to meet you, to talk to you. We're not doing anything wrong. We simply want to express ourselves,'" he recounted.
He added a reflection that encapsulates his stance: "If they have the courage to face this, how can I not see them? But yes, it pains me, obviously, that someone might be detained just for meeting with me. It shouldn't be this way."
Hammer's words starkly illustrate the current climate in Cuba: a nation entrenched in a deep crisis, where scarcity, the collapse of basic services, and the deterioration of daily life are compounded by a systematic policy of surveillance and punishment against anyone daring to think differently or speak with external actors.
Rather than addressing the economic and social issues with real solutions, the regime has opted to further restrict civic space, using fear as a tool of control.
The Rising Intimidation Against Those Meeting Hammer
The interview comes amidst a new wave of allegations by the U.S. Embassy in Cuba regarding detentions and intimidation of citizens attempting to meet with the head of mission.
Just this week, the diplomatic post reported that several individuals were arrested or threatened shortly before Hammer arrived at their homes.
The objective, according to Washington, is to prevent any direct contact between the diplomat and the populace.
In a message shared on Facebook, Hammer detailed an incident in Puerto Padre, Las Tunas:
"I wanted to visit Vladimir Martín, but he was detained just before we arrived at his house. Why? At least he was released after we left. This happened to several others with whom I would've liked to meet because they wanted to speak with me."
The embassy also released a video showing the diplomat arriving at Vladimir's family home, where he spoke with a child who explained that his parents had been detained and asked him to convey a message.
Hammer sent his regards and expressed regret at not being able to meet them.
Opposition activists later confirmed that Vladimir Martín Castellanos, his wife Iliana Marrero, and Ezequiel Morales Carmenatti were all arrested to prevent them from meeting with the American representative.
Despite this pattern of surveillance, detentions, and organized acts of repudiation, the ambassador has reiterated his commitment to visiting wherever he is invited.
"The job of a diplomat is to understand the reality of the country they are assigned to and report back to our capital," he emphasized.
The embassy has also stressed that neither threats nor mobilized mobs will prevent them from continuing to meet with Cubans concerned about the country's crisis and has highlighted the Church's role as one of the few spaces still supporting the population.
A Nation in Turmoil and a State Responding with Fear
This unfolds as Cuba experiences one of its harshest periods in recent history: a virtually stagnant economy, extended blackouts, collapsed transportation, and shortages of food and medicine, alongside a mass exodus emptying entire neighborhoods.
Instead of taking responsibility and seeking genuine solutions, the government has chosen to tighten political control.
The result is a country where meeting a diplomat, discussing the situation, or simply expressing an opinion can lead to arrest, interrogation, or worse.
In the face of such a scenario, Hammer's words not only depict repression but also highlight the bravery of citizens who, aware of the risks, refuse to live in silence.
Understanding the Challenges Faced by Cubans
What risks do Cubans face when meeting with a U.S. diplomat?
Cubans risk detention, harassment, and legal consequences simply for meeting with a U.S. diplomat like Mike Hammer, as the government uses these tactics to prevent external contact and control dissent.
How does the Cuban government respond to the economic crisis?
Instead of addressing the root causes of the economic crisis, the Cuban government has opted to tighten political control, using fear and repression to maintain power.