Cuban father sheltered at Phoenix church recounts long journey to US

PHOENIX — It took more than a year for a Cuban family sheltered at a church in Phoenix to reach Arizona’s southern border with Mexico where they asked for asylum.

The father, who asked not to be identified because of fear for his and his family’s safety, said he, his wife and their children came to the United States fleeing retaliation from the Cuban government.

He was a professor in Cuba.

“They told me to lie to my students about things that weren’t true,” he told KTAR News 92.3 FM.

After he refused to tell his students lies about the Cuban revolution, he was fired. He was denied a job at numerous schools. He believes the government was behind that.

“They would tell me that they already had reached capacity, which was a lie,” he said, referring to schools where he applied to work. “I had friends who were professors at those schools, and they would tell me they did have openings.”

He started his own business selling ceramic products but was shut down. He was also threatened multiple times by police.

“I had no future in my home country,” he said. “My wife and I decided that we had no other option but to leave.”

They sold everything they had and started their journey with their three kids, ages 4, 7 and 14.

They first got to Nicaragua, where they were robbed.

“We were practically left with nothing,” he said. “Through friends, I was able to find a job and make money.”

The family stayed there for a few months. Then went on to Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico, stopping along the way to work, make money and pay for transportation.

At times, they were homeless and went hungry.

When they finally reached the U.S.-Mexico border, they turned themselves in to Border Patrol agents and asked for asylum. They were detained a few days at a holding facility where he said, at times, they endured hunger and were cold.

After testing negative for COVID-19 at a welcome center in Phoenix, the family on Monday was taken to Monte Vista Cross Cultural Church. It’s one of the few churches in the Phoenix area taking in migrants after they’re released by immigration officials.

“We’ve been through difficult moments, but I think it was worth it,” the father said.

“What I wish for the most is to have a home again,” he added. “I want to be able to work and for the U.S. to take me and my family in.”

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