Cuban's Search for Rafters Who Reached the U.S. on Displayed Raft in Hialeah Yields Unexpected Responses

A rustic raft on display in a public park in Hialeah, Florida, has become the focal point of an emotional search. Cuban content creator and musician, Yonesqui Cabrera Velázquez, known on social media as Cabrerita305, aims to locate the rafters who utilized it to cross the Florida Straits and reach the United States.

Originally from Caibarién, Villa Clara, Cabrerita now resides in Miami. He posted a video on his Instagram account, showcasing the vessel and revealing his quest.

"Someone, on this, left Cuba one day and arrived in the United States of America. Which rafters crossed the Florida Straits on this raft?" he inquired in front of the camera.

The content creator explained that the raft was donated to the city of Hialeah during the tenure of then-Mayor Carlos Hernández. It currently remains on view in a community park. Describing it as "rustic and completely authentic," he mentioned that its engine—whose brand sparked lively debate among followers—might be of Soviet origin.

Cabrerita's motivation stems partly from his own song, "Las Almas del Estrecho," which is dedicated to the Cuban rafters' exodus.

"I'm excited by the idea of not leaving this once vessel of freedom stranded and putting it back on the journey to find its protagonists," he expressed in the video.

Responses from the Cuban Community

The post unleashed a flood of testimonials from individuals who personally experienced the maritime journey from Cuba to the United States. Several identified themselves as rafters and shared their stories with a mix of pride, pain, and humor.

One of the most impactful comments came from a user who showed a photo of their vessel: "This was ours, we arrived on November 23, 2022, there were 19 of us. We traveled with bad weather and many difficulties, but we reached Key Colony, Marathon."

Another user recounted a collective journey in extreme conditions: "Similar to that one (in Hialeah), with a blown Isuzu engine, in 24 hours, two women, two children, and 18 men arrived."

A third presented himself as a veteran of multiple illegal departure attempts from Cuba: "I'm a nine-time rafter. I put them together like bicycles. That engine is a Hyundai H100 from the panataxis buses."

Among the most heart-wrenching stories was one from someone who departed Playa Cajío in Güira de Melena in 2006, heading for Cancun: "Unfortunately, someone jumped off 12 miles away and was lost."

"I came in a three-meter inflatable raft with a small engine. A complete madness. It was January, with a cold front coming down. I bounced more than in an amusement park, but here we are," another user wrote.

Another Cuban added: "I'm a rafter. I came in an aluminum boat three feet wide and 14 feet long. I paddled my way here!"

There were also those who arrived in 1994 during the Special Period and wish to see their raft again from their current life's perspective: "Mine is in Fort Jefferson. I've always wanted to see it again. I live in Houston, Texas, and I hope to return to that place and see my little raft someday."

The engine of the Hialeah raft sparked further debate. Most commenters pointed to a Hyundai or Mitsubishi engine, not a Soviet one.

One Cuban summarized the historical weight of the vessel: "That rustic raft tells the story of the nearly three million Cubans who have had to leave our island."

Cabrerita announced that he will continue the investigation and invited his followers to suggest questions for when he manages to contact any of the original crew members.

According to figures from the International Organization for Migration, at least 142 Cuban rafters died attempting to reach the United States in just the first eight months of 2024.