Clinging to 鈥榠nvisible鈥� hope
After Raul refused to join the Cuban military and to take up arms against civilians, police hauled him away from the soccer field and took him to jail, where they threatened him and brutally attacked him. At just 19, he felt he had no choice but to leave behind the oppressive dictatorship of his home country. He came to the U.S. hopeful that he would be treated more fairly.
In Cuba, Raul played soccer in a competitive youth league. His teammates were impressed with his finesse for the sport. Raul was talented, with a bright future as an athlete, and he aspired to teach soccer in the U.S. after earning a certificate to teach physical education back home.
But he hasn鈥檛 had that chance, and doesn鈥檛 know if he鈥檒l ever be able to realize his dream.
In August 2018, after presenting himself to immigration officials in McAllen, Texas, Raul was immediately transported to Pine Prairie ICE Processing Center.
Days slowly blur together at the immigrant prison, as Raul and his fellow detainees cling to the 鈥渋nvisible鈥� hope that one day, they鈥檒l be released. The shower and drinking water are brown, Raul said. When his kidneys began hurting, he was left without medical attention for several days. His once cheerful spirit has now plummeted into a state of depression.
鈥淚 cry all day, every day,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 a depressed prisoner. No one understands me, except the other Cubans.鈥�
On Nov. 30, 2018, Raul was denied his request for asylum. The swift pace of immigration court proceedings didn鈥檛 allow him enough time to gather his documents, nor was he able to secure representation. During the hearing, the judge declared that 鈥淐uba has changed, and nothing bad awaited him.鈥�
Raul said the judge knew nothing of the country鈥檚 strict dictatorship, and he felt defeated after the decision. He also said it hurt to watch the judge actively dismiss the details of his case.聽
鈥淲e talk, and they don鈥檛 listen,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey look around the court, talking to other people, drinking coffee. They don鈥檛 look at us. They don鈥檛 understand what鈥檚 happening in Cuba. They鈥檙e racists who are against us.鈥�
Raul has also been quarantined in the facility due to an 鈥渙utbreak鈥� of mumps and the chicken pox. This has greatly affected his access to lawyers, who are denied entry into Pine Prairie when the men are confined to their dorm.
But the saddest part about Raul鈥檚 detention is that he鈥檚 separated from his family, although he had no choice but to flee.聽
鈥淭hey鈥檙e worried I鈥檓 still detained,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey want to help, but they can鈥檛.鈥�
Raul is now appealing his case. He simply cannot return to Cuba, he said. He prays for the chance to live a life free of fear, and the opportunity to achieve his goal of teaching soccer and being reunited with his family in the U.S.
鈥淚 want to do everything, but I don鈥檛 know if that day will come.鈥�
