The Cuban activist Óscar Casanella has raised alarms about a sudden development in his immigration case which threatens his asylum process in the United States, a situation he and his lawyer had assumed was nearly resolved.
“After waiting for over a year for the decision on my final political asylum hearing, a new court date, a Master Hearing, appeared unexpectedly in the immigration system for August 28th. Honestly, neither my lawyer nor I saw this coming,” Casanella shared on his Facebook page.
Convinced that his legal matters were settled, the Cuban dissident expressed his surprise. “I thought the process was over,” he stated.
Casanella crossed into the U.S. at the southern border on January 16, 2022, and was issued an I-220A document—an order of supervision that does not equate to formal admission or parole—leaving him in immigration limbo without eligibility for Cuban Adjustment Act benefits. His asylum request was filed in April of that year.
The initial preliminary hearing was held in May 2025, followed by the final hearing on June 24, 2025, which lasted over six hours but ended without a ruling.
“I was just waiting for the judge's decision on my asylum trial, which, as I understand it, is usually posted on the Immigration Court’s website and sent by mail,” he noted.
Instead of receiving a verdict, Casanella and his legal advisor found out about another preliminary hearing scheduled for August 2026, a turn of events neither had predicted.
Chronology of Repression Faced by Casanella
In his post, Casanella recounted a timeline of state repression he endured in Cuba starting in 2013 when State Security agents began targeting him. Here is a summary of the major events highlighted in his testimony:
1. Surveillance and threats begin in 2013
Following years of underground political activism, in December 2013, State Security initiated overt repression against him and his family. On December 7th, he was accosted outside his home by two agents who physically assaulted him and threatened to ruin his life and that of his family.
2. Arrest for participating in an art action in 2014
On December 30, 2014, he was arrested with his wife and a relative for participating in the art event “El Susurro de Tatlin” organized by Tania Bruguera. They were released after hours of questioning, only to find loosened wheel screws on their car, which they saw as a deliberate attempt to cause harm.
3. Alleged sabotage attempt in 2015
A trusted mechanic revealed that State Security had pressured him to spy on and sabotage Casanella's vehicle. The mechanic refused to cooperate and stopped working with the family out of fear of reprisals.
4. Collision with an Interior Ministry truck in 2015
On August 3, 2015, Casanella’s car was rear-ended by a truck from the Ministry of the Interior, a key player in Cuba's political policing. The crash pushed the vehicle into a dangerous intersection, causing severe material damage. He claims to have photos of the incident and the police report.
5. Beating during detention in 2017
On January 12, 2017, several agents detained him, allegedly choking and beating him in a cell. Another detainee supposedly witnessed the assault.
6. Harassment outside Cuba in 2017
In September 2017, while in the Dominican Republic airport, he was separated from others and interrogated about his connections to Cuban dissidents, and threatened with flight cancellation.
7. Attack during a peaceful protest in 2019
During a peaceful protest for LGBT rights on May 11, 2019, he was detained and beaten, sustaining a forehead injury, which was captured on video by journalist Mónica Baró Sánchez.
8. Death threat in 2020
During house arrest, an agent known as “Angelito” threatened his life if he continued public activities, referencing cases like Oswaldo Payá and Laura Pollán.
9. House arrest and isolation in 2021
After a protest, he spent nearly all of 2021 under house arrest, with phone and data services cut, and travel and visitation restricted. He was warned to leave Cuba within a month or face sedition charges.
10. Departure from Cuba and asylum request
He left Cuba on December 10, 2021, arriving at the U.S. border on January 16, 2022, receiving an I-220A document. Now, he and his family fear asylum denial and deportation to Cuba or a country susceptible to Cuban intelligence.
Concerns About Cuban Agents in the U.S.
Adding to his legal distress is a claim Casanella made in May 2026: at least two of his alleged persecutors, documented since 2015 and 2016, have obtained U.S. legal residency while he remains undocumented.
“In the U.S., my family and I live in fear of being denied asylum and deported to Cuba or somewhere with active Cuban intelligence,” he wrote.
“We fear traveling within the U.S. and being detained by ICE,” he continued.
Casanella concluded his message with a plea: “My family and I want to live without fear of Cuban political police, Cuban intelligence, or ICE. We want to live somewhere we can sleep peacefully, knowing we have legal status, not as nomads without state protection.”
The activist's concerns are exacerbated by the current immigration climate. Recently, several Cubans with I-220A have received deportation orders, and immigration courts have expedited hearings for those cases.
Insights on Óscar Casanella's Asylum Case
What unexpected event occurred in Óscar Casanella's asylum case?
A new preliminary hearing was unexpectedly scheduled in his immigration case, which he and his lawyer believed was nearly resolved.
Why is Óscar Casanella concerned about deportation?
Casanella fears being deported to Cuba or another country where Cuban intelligence could target him, especially as other Cubans with similar immigration status are facing deportation.
What are the main incidents of repression Óscar Casanella faced in Cuba?
Casanella reported a series of repressive actions by Cuban State Security, including physical assaults, threats, arrests, and attempts at sabotage from 2013 to 2021.