A group of almost 30 Cuban rafters, which arrived in the Florida Keys at the beginning of 2024, was released by the US authorities, and they are receiving accommodation in a church in Hialeah.
According to the media Telemundo 51these Cubans belong to a Christian congregation, and spent five months building a rustic boat with all the materials they could find to make the dangerous journey.
The statements of three of the rafters indicated that it was not easy, so they were grateful to God for having made it out of the trip alive. They indicated that the group was guided by Pastor Fernando Meirelles, who lived in Eastern Havana, who convinced them to escape the misery on the Island.
“Cubans cannot feel free in their country of birth,” said Meirelles when asked about the reasons why he left the island.
The aforementioned media indicates that the group arrived in Marquesas Keys, where they surrendered to the US Border Patrol (USBP), after having spent the end of the year on the high seas.
The group was transferred to the Krome Detention Center, where they remained until they were recently released.
Meirelles indicated that, even after being detained for entering the country illegally, the treatment they received was much better than what they would have been given on the Island if they had been detained.
“They treat us like sir around here. They give us medicine, good food, they take care of you,” he declared.
Images shared by the aforementioned media show that the group traveled to Florida with a baby in their arms. Her grandfather, Raidel Castillo, indicated that he was separated from her while the authorities carry out the relevant investigations, but that they let her see her through video calls.
Although the group is still waiting to receive a work permit, and that their accommodation in Hialeah is temporary, they all say they feel grateful to God for having received the opportunity to start a life of freedom in the United States.
The arrival of the Cubans to Florida was reported by the press, and although the aforementioned media indicates that this occurred on January 1, On that occasion it was reported that it had occurred on January 3. It is known that this is the same case because the publication shared by the USBP included a photograph of the rustic boat, which coincides with the one that was shown in the videos of Telemundo 51.
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