• José Daniel Ferrer, a prominent Cuban dissident, has accepted exile in the US after enduring years of imprisonment.
• His departure follows a formal request from the US government, aimed at ensuring his safety.
• Ferrer cited torture and threats from the Cuban government that influenced his decision to leave.
• He flew from Santiago de Cuba to Miami, where he was received by supportive Cuban-American leaders.
• Despite being in exile, Ferrer vowed to continue his fight for freedom in Cuba.

José Daniel Ferrer, one of Cuba's most recognized dissidents, left the island for the United States on Monday, following a formal request from the US government. The Cuban Foreign Ministry confirmed that Ferrer, along with his family, departed from Santiago de Cuba en route to Florida, expressing approval of the arrangement by Ferrer himself, who has long been a prominent activist against the Communist regime in Cuba, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

Ferrer, 54, has been a leading figure in Cuba's dissident movement, having founded the Patriotic Union of Cuba (Unpacu) in 2011. He has faced imprisonment multiple times since the early 2000s, and his last incarceration stemmed from protests against the regime when thousands of Cubans demonstrated against food shortages in 2021. Following his recent release in January, Ferrer was re-incarcerated in April for alleged parole violations, a claim he disputes. His departure reportedly came after heavy pressure from the Cuban government, which included threats against his family to secure his acceptance of exile, according to Latin America Reports and South China Morning Post.

Upon his arrival in Miami, Ferrer expressed feelings of sorrow and mixed emotions about leaving Cuba, stating that while he was happy to reunite with his family, he felt concern for other political prisoners still incarcerated. “They live in hell in Cuban prisons,” Ferrer communicated to an audience at the airport, reflecting his ongoing commitment to the cause of freedom in Cuba despite his exile, according to Reuters and Latin America Reports.

The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, noted in a statement that Ferrer was a victim of torture and called for the release of all political prisoners within Cuba, highlighting the ongoing repression in the country. Ferrer’s migration was viewed by many in the Cuban-American community as an enforced exile rather than genuine freedom, emphasizing the ongoing struggles faced by dissidents in Cuba, as outlined by Reuters and Latin America Reports.