US Deportation of Cuban Official Linked to Protest Suppression

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has recently deported Daniel Morejon Garcia, who worked as a civil servant for the Cuban Ministry of Home Affairs. He was involved in the oppressive measures against peaceful anti-communist protests in Cuba.

Morejon Garcia was affiliated with the Cuban Communist Party, serving as the head of the Defense Council in Artemisa and as part of the rapid response brigade. He was arrested by ICE in April after it was revealed that he had not disclosed his communist background to US authorities.

“Daniel Morejon Garcia is an illegal alien from Cuba and did not reveal his ties with the Ministry of Home Affairs or his role in the oppression of Cuban citizens during the July 11 protests,” he stated, adding that he returned to Cuba in late May.

The Cuban Foundation for Non-Governmental Organizations for Human Rights (FHRC) keeps a public list of known enforcers of the Castro regime. Morejon Garcia is believed to have been involved in the severe oppression and unjust convictions of at least three men during the 2021 protests that saw thousands of Cubans demanding an end to 60 years of communist rule.

Video footage shared on social media from July 11, 2021, shows Morejon Garcia assaulting a peaceful protestor, Cuban Martinez Luis, who was advocating for freedom. The FHRC reports that Martínez Luis was unfairly sentenced to eight years in prison for defending himself during the incident.

The FHRC also claims that Morejon Garcia played a role in the wrongful arrests of two other men convicted on the same day. Prior to his arrest, he had reportedly moved to Miami, Florida, to live with his daughter, Dyma Morejon.

FHRC member Luis Dominguez described Morejon Garcia’s arrest and subsequent deportation as “an act of justice,” expressing astonishment at how quickly ICE managed to apprehend and deport him.

“Those who have endured long sentences in Cuba for fighting for freedom will at least feel some semblance of justice knowing this oppressor is no longer on US soil,” Dominguez remarked.

Following Morejon Garcia’s return to Cuba, the FHRC indicated they received fresh complaints. Residents in Las Cañas reported that Cuban officials threatened those who had cooperated in the complaints leading to his deportation.

“Witnesses say he has made threats and is seen in the company of agents from the Interior Ministry. This suggests he has reestablished connections with national security,” Dominguez added.

Morejon Garcia is also mentioned in a list compiled by Rep. Carlos Guimenez (R-FL) this year to the Department of Homeland Security. This list names over 100 known suppressors of the Castro regime who have recently entered the US due to immigration policy changes during President Biden’s administration.

Under President Trump, there were significant efforts to revert strict US policies against the Cuban government, reversing concessions previously provided during Biden’s tenure.

Trump implemented a prohibition on financial transactions involving entities linked to the Cuban military, which relies on these funds for their oppressive activities. The new regulations also included a ban on US tourism to Cuba, a vital income source for the regime.

Recently, on the anniversary of the July 11th protests, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced visa restrictions targeting some of the top officials of the Cuban regime, including “President” Miguel Diaz-Canel and his wife.