Cuba confirms departure of Jose Daniel Ferrer to Miami

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Granma
Today 08:52

Cuba’s Foreign Ministry confirms José Daniel Ferrer’s departure to the US following a formal Washington request and his consent.

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Cuban opposition leader Jose Daniel Ferrer arrives for a press conference in Miami, Florida, the United States, on October 13, 2025 (AFP)

The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Monday that Cuban citizen Jose Daniel Ferrer García, accompanied by several members of his family, has departed the country for the United States in response to a formal request by the US government and with Ferrer’s explicit consent.

According to the official communique released by the Ministry, the procedure was conducted in full compliance with legal and bilateral protocols established between Havana and Washington and followed “a thorough evaluation of the legal status of Ferrer Garcia by the Prosecution.”

The statement clarified that all actions were carried out “in observance of due process, the specific circumstances of the case, and the powers legally vested upon the relevant institutions.”

Legal context and revocation of early release

Ferrer, who had been serving a sentence of four years and six months, was granted early release in January 2025. However, the benefit was revoked in April after multiple breaches of court-imposed obligations and legal requirements, as outlined in Cuba’s Criminal Enforcement Law.

Following these violations, Ferrer was placed under pre-trial detention while facing new criminal accusations. The prosecutor’s office later decided to modify this measure after the investigation concluded, in accordance with its legal authority.

The Ministry’s communiqué emphasized that Ferrer’s departure was not a case of forced expulsion or exile, but rather the result of a bilateral arrangement responding to a US government request and the detainee’s own consent.

Havana rejects defamation campaigns

In its statement, the Cuban government reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the rule of law, the protection of citizens’ rights, and the defense of national sovereignty in the face of “disparagement campaigns” aimed at discrediting the country’s legal and political system.

“The Cuban State reiterates its unwavering commitment to law enforcement; the protection of the rights of all persons; the defense of our sovereignty against disparagement campaigns; and the preservation of peace and the constitutional order,” the Ministry concluded.

The statement comes amid ongoing efforts by anti-Cuban media outlets and opposition groups abroad to portray Ferrer’s case as one of political persecution, claims that Havana firmly rejects, reiterating that all judicial procedures were conducted in accordance with national and international law.

Who is Jose Daniel Ferrer?

Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia is the founder of the so-called Union Patriotica de Cuba (UNPACU), an unrecognized organization that Cuban authorities have long described as a destabilizing group financed and directed from abroad. According to the Cuban government, Ferrer’s conduct over the years has gone far beyond lawful political dissent, involving repeated violations of judicial orders and actions designed to provoke unrest and discredit national institutions. According to Granma, Cuba’s official newspaper, Ferrer has a “long record of violence and subversion,” extending beyond political activity into criminal acts.

The publication recalled that Ferrer was arrested after abducting and severely beating a man, leaving the victim hospitalized for his injuries. State media further cited testimonies from multiple individuals, including opposition figures, who described Ferrer as “abusive, arrogant, and violent.”

Cuban authorities maintain that Ferrer was not a victim of political persecution, but rather a repeat offender who consistently used foreign backing and media platforms to advance a hostile agenda against Cuba’s constitutional order.

Close coordination with US embassy

Official sources emphasize that Ferrer maintained close coordination with the US embassy in Havana and received financial and logistical assistance from foreign actors seeking to undermine Cuban sovereignty. His group, UNPACU, is accused of operating as a conduit for US funding under the guise of promoting democracy, while in reality fomenting division and attempting to erode public confidence in the government.

Havana insists that such activities form part of Washington’s long-standing campaign of interference and regime-change operations in the region, using individuals like Ferrer to execute political agendas that serve external interests rather than the Cuban people.