At long last, Arístides Fernández García, a 37-year-old Cuban, has been reunited with his family in Bolivia after an arduous journey that began in the Central African Republic. He had been deported there by the United States in late July, and spent nearly three months before finally making it out.
The news of his arrival was confirmed by Yasmany Moreno de Armas, another Cuban deportee still in Bangui, the capital of Central African Republic. Moreno shared the update in a video on social media, stating, "Thank God, Aristi has arrived in Bolivia with his sister and is now with his family."
Fernández García had previously informed that he was at Bogota's airport in Colombia, preparing to catch a flight to Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, where his family resides. His journey out of Bangui commenced on October 19, after enduring months of uncertainty.
The Long Route to Safety
From Bangui, Arístides traveled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he was met by United Nations personnel. He then proceeded to Istanbul, Turkey, before enduring a 13-hour flight across the Atlantic to Bogotá, compounded by several delays along the way.
Noticias Telemundo reported that Arístides managed to leave the Central African Republic with the aid of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
From Miami Detention to African Deportation
Fernández García's ordeal began when he was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on January 6, 2026, after attending a Miami immigration hearing. Despite having a pending asylum request and a valid work permit until 2030, he was arrested.
He was shuffled between several U.S. detention centers over the following months, including the notorious "Alligator Alcatraz" in Florida, where he claimed to have spent 96 days and lost around 60 pounds in custody. In late July, he was sent to the Central African Republic, a nation with which he had no personal ties.
In Bangui, he found himself without documents and struggled to leave his lodging while being left in the dark about his legal status. He described his situation to Noticias Telemundo in August as akin to a kidnapping, stating, "It's like being kidnapped. I still have nothing."
Facing Health Challenges and Uncertain Future
His plight worsened in recent weeks as Moreno released videos showing Arístides visibly weakened while awaiting medical care. Moreno reported that several migrants were falling ill with malaria.
Upon finally departing Bangui, Arístides expressed gratitude for the support he received and acknowledged the hardships he faced. "This has been a long journey. I was imprisoned for seven months, almost three months here in Africa. It's been really tough," he admitted in a farewell video.
During a stop in Ethiopia, he conveyed relief at leaving the Central African Republic behind, commenting, "Everything changes here. This is quite a beautiful city, very modern. The airport is quite large and from now on, it seems life has started to change a bit."
Although he successfully reunited with his family in Bolivia, Fernández García left behind other Cubans who remain in Bangui, including Moreno, with whom he shared months of hardship. Before leaving, he expressed his concern for those still unable to find a way out of Africa, saying, "I feel sorry for my friends who are left behind, but I believe they will also find a solution, God willing."
Questions About Arístides Fernández García's Journey
How did Arístides Fernández García manage to leave the Central African Republic?
Arístides managed to leave the Central African Republic with assistance from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
What challenges did Arístides face while in Africa?
While in Africa, Arístides faced significant challenges, including being without documents, limited mobility, unclear legal status, and health issues such as exposure to malaria.
Why was Arístides Fernández García deported to the Central African Republic?
Arístides was deported to the Central African Republic despite having no personal ties to the country, as part of U.S. immigration enforcement actions following his detention by ICE.