On Saturday, prominent Cuban dissident José Daniel Ferrer García shared a heartfelt video on Facebook showing his reunion with his daughter, Daniela Patricia Ferrer Reyes, in the United States. The emotional encounter marked the end of nearly four years apart.
"The last time we saw each other was in 2022, right? Back then, I was in prison. After that, there was a period without visits," Ferrer explained to his daughter in a relaxed, family setting captured in the video.
This long-awaited reunion follows years of enforced separation, repression, and family hardship at the hands of the Cuban regime.
Ferrer was detained on July 12, 2021, following the massive protests on July 11, and was held at Mar Verde Prison in Santiago de Cuba. From March 17, 2023, he was kept in solitary confinement, cut off from his family and without any visits.
When his family was finally able to see him in June 2023 after months of isolation, they found him in poor condition, wearing only underwear, struggling to walk, and in severe pain. In November 2024, the U.S. government publicly condemned an assault he suffered while incarcerated.
Impact on Ferrer's Family
The regime's repression extended to his children as well. His eldest son, José Daniel Ferrer Cantillo, was arrested alongside him on July 11 but was released a week later. However, prison authorities denied him visitation rights as punishment for his participation in the November 15, 2021, protests.
Daniela Patricia, Ferrer’s daughter from a previous relationship with Liettys Rachel Reyes, arrived in the U.S. in 2022 with her aunt. She faced a precarious immigration status, at risk of deportation to Cuba due to a Supervision Order. She needed to submit a political asylum case by November 2025.
Ferrer’s Journey to Freedom
Ferrer was released from prison on January 16, 2025, but his parole was revoked on April 29, 2025, leading to his return to Mar Verde. Ultimately, on October 13, he left Cuba for Miami with his wife Nelva Ortega and three children, accompanied by U.S. State Department officials. Exile was a condition imposed by the dictatorship.
In the video posted on Saturday, Ferrer affectionately calls Daniela Patricia "the most beautiful girl in the galaxy" and tells her, "I missed you so, so much. You've grown a lot and look beautiful."
Daniela Patricia will turn nine on April 23, and Ferrer has already promised her a gift: "We're going to buy you a violin. Let's check out how much a violin costs so we can get one."
Ferrer also told his daughter of his plans to return soon to Cuba to continue his fight: "I came to see you because soon, very soon, Dad will be back in Cuba. And of course, I'll come to see you, and you'll come to see me."
Frequently Asked Questions about José Daniel Ferrer’s Reunion
Why was José Daniel Ferrer initially detained?
José Daniel Ferrer was arrested on July 12, 2021, following the widespread protests in Cuba on July 11, 2021, known as the 11J protests.
What were the conditions of Ferrer's release from prison?
Ferrer was released from prison on January 16, 2025, but his parole was revoked on April 29 of the same year, resulting in his return to prison. He was eventually allowed to leave Cuba for Miami on October 13 under the condition of exile.
What challenges did Ferrer's daughter face in the U.S.?
Daniela Patricia faced immigration challenges upon her arrival in the U.S. in 2022, as she was at risk of deportation to Cuba due to a Supervision Order. She needed to apply for political asylum before November 2025.