Former president of the Municipal Assembly of Popular Power on the Isle of Youth lives in Kentucky after entering the US thanks to the CBPOne program

While Liván Fuentes Álvarez, former president of the Municipal Assembly of Popular Power on the Isle of Youth, was denied humanitarian parole to enter USAher predecessor in office, Arelys Casañola Quintana, settled in Kentucky after requesting asylum on April 20, 2024 at the southern border through the CBPOne application, alleging “fear of socialism,” as reported by Martí Noticias.

Casañola Quintana was president of the Municipal Assembly of Popular Power on the Isle of Youth between 2012 and 2018 and a member of the Cuban parliament. Before, she was a leader of the official Federation of Cuban Women, head of the Union of Young Communists and other state companies, and even graduated from the Higher School of the Ñico López Party with a specialty in National Defense.

A local press report in 2018 mentions his “release at his own request” from his positions, because he would remain “for a long period of time abroad, which makes it impossible for him to fulfill his assigned tasks.” “He received numerous recognitions from organizations and organizations, among them the replica of the Pinero ship, the highest-ranking attribute granted by the Municipal Assembly of People’s Power,” the Victoria Newspaper reported at the time.

The former leader does not want to talk about her communist past

Casañola Quintana, 56, traveled to Mexico with his son Fidel Alejandro Espinosa Casañola and they waited for months for their CBPOne appointment, the only legal way to request asylum at the US border. Independent media had reported her presence in Mexico, but she still managed to obtain an appointment and enter the United States alleging “fear of socialism,” according to sources close to the former official consulted by Martí Noticias.

Through appointments scheduled in CBPOne, more than 500,000 immigrants have entered the United States alleging fear of returning to their countries due to persecution and must fight for asylum in North American courts. Mother and son deleted their Facebook profiles after being contacted by Martí Noticias for this story. A profile in the name of Casañola Quintana on the social network X was very active in sharing propaganda favorable to the Cuban regime until May 2023.

Martí Noticias spoke by telephone with a relative of Casañola Quintana, who confirmed that she entered the United States through CBPOne and that she does not want to talk to the press about her communist past. Recently, Martí Noticias exclusively revealed how Liván Fuentes Álvarez, who worked hand in hand with Casañola Quintana, was denied entry to the United States, first as vice president of the Municipal Assembly in Isla de Pinos and then replaced her when she decided to go abroad. foreign.

Reactions to his arrival in the United States

“She went through the villages asking people to trust in the revolution and socialism. She asked for a tough hand against illegalities. She spoke wonders about Fidel, Raúl and Díaz-Canel and she looks where she is now. “Everyone is outraged on the island. How can they let someone like that enter the United States?” said María Antonia Guerra from the Isle of Youth.

Activist Ramón Salazar, repressed for demonstrating on July 11, 2021, told Martí Noticias that it is a “shame” that someone “with those credentials” was allowed entry into the United States. “We want to inform the United States immigration authorities that this lady, during the time she was president of the Popular Power, ordered and participated in acts of repudiation against opponents and is also a member of the Communist Party of Cuba,” she said. . “We ask that her case be analyzed and she be returned to Cuban territory. “She enjoyed the benefits of the dictatorship and now she also wants to do so with the United States of America,” insisted Salazar, who chairs the opposition Pinero Autonomous Party.

Who has the right to request asylum?

Under U.S. and international law, anyone who arrives in the United States can apply for asylum, said attorney Ángel Leal. “Current laws allow when hundreds of thousands of people cross the US border to seek that protection. It is section 208 of the Immigration Code,” Leal explained. To win an asylum case, an immigrant must demonstrate persecution or fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

According to sources close to Casañola Quintana, the authorities gave him a Form I-94, considered a Record of Entry into the country. The Department of Homeland Security issues this document to foreigners who are admitted, to those who are in the process of adjusting their status in the US or to those who extend their stay. With Form I-94 you will be able to obtain a parole that will allow you to benefit from the Cuban Adjustment Act, one year and one day after arriving in the United States and making your way to permanent residence.

“Her residence and adjustment of status will depend on whether she is admissible or not and there are countless reasons for which she could be disqualified, for example crimes against morality, immigration fraud or membership in a totalitarian party. In the case of Cuba, both membership in the Young Communist League and the Communist Party could prevent you from becoming a resident,” Leal added. According to the lawyer, those who participated in a totalitarian political party must wait at least five years to obtain permanent residence and, in the case of citizenship, they must demonstrate at least 10 years of not having ties with this type of organization.