The young Cuban resident in the United States arrived in Miami without setbacks.
Miami, United States. – The Cuban Leonardo Peña de la Cruz, permanent resident in the United States, is already back in US territory after managing a travel document with the US embassy in Havana and refusing to pay $ 4,000 that they demanded to return his residence card (Green Card) stolen, as the channel reported on Wednesday Univision 23.
According to that medium, when arriving from Cuba Peña de la Cruz “he had no problems.” Only “he was sent to the famous room where immigration agents asked him several questions and then welcomed him to the United States,” said reporter Daniel Benítez.
Peña de la Cruz suffered the theft of his Green Card When I was traveling by road from Havana to Guantanamo, last month. Shortly after the document was published in a sale group on Facebook, where they demanded $ 4,000 to return it. “Do not pay extortion, do not pay money because it has become a fashion inside Cuba. I have written more than 10 people who are in the same situation. What happens? That people do not report, people take fear,” Univisión 23, “Everyone who is inside Cuba who does not fall into a blackmail to pay for their documents, if they are stolen or if you lose them,”
Peña de la Cruz himself detailed the steps that followed to return to the US: “First of all you have to denounce the police when they happen to you that kind of thing. Why? Because the police give you some papers, of course, if there is a current. If not, you will have to go until you do that there is current.”
Then, he sent an email to the address Visashabana.gov With the issue “L-11 authorized by re-entry to the United States”, more its name and surname. After receiving an email link, the young Cuban had to complete form I-131A, which has a cost of $ 575, and received an appointment at the US embassy in Havana.
“The appointment gives you supervipate; the maximum that is delayed is three days after you do the email,” he said. “Go for all legal processes, send your email, pay your appointment and will be able to return to the United States normally,” he insisted.
After discovering the attempt at extortion, at the end of last month, Peña de la Cruz said to Martí News: “They want to charge me 4,000 USD for recovering the residence. I had to come from Guantanamo to Havana to introduce myself at the US embassy, where they attended me very well and they are helping me.”
On the robbery, he explained: “I was on my way to my house. Already in the East, I stopped in a place to eat because the trip is more than 10 hours. When I got off a few minutes, I broke my glass’s glass and I stole the documents.” At that time he also recommended not yielding to blackmail: “My advice is that nobody lets you get extorted. They go directly to the United States embassy, there they serve them perfectly. They will not leave them thrown in Cuba, that is a lie.”
After reporting Another extortion attempton September 16, the US Embassy in Havana He issued an alert For the increase in American travel documents in Cuba, including residence cards.
“The United States Embassy has noticed an increase in the theft of American travel documents in Cuba, including permanent residence cards. Victims have reported extortion cases, which requires large sums of money to return stolen documents,” the notice indicates.
The diplomatic headquarters also warned of a criminal rebound on the island: “Minor crimes, such as the theft of bags, wallets and robberies in vehicles represent a risk for travelers in Cuba. Violent crimes, such as armed hand robberies and homicides, are also increasing. It is recommended to all travelers who exercise caution while they are in Cuba.”
Recently, too The case transcended of a young Cuban American visit in Camagüey whose Green Card It would have been stolen and for whose return a Facebook user demanded $ 5,000. His grandmother, Aracelis Gálvez Delgado, told Martí News: “The girl came only for eight days, because she studies in the United States. When we got home and prepared her things for the return, we realized that her residence and passport had disappeared.” “There someone helped us with the suitcases and we believe it was at that time,” he added.
Lawyers consulted by Martí News recommend not paying bailouts and record before the police. Immigration lawyer Ismael Labrador explained the possible scenario by re-entering the US without the physical card: “With that report, the person can travel without physical residence. Upon arriving in the United States, the worst thing that can happen is that immigration is issued an I-193 Waiverwhich can leave for free or cost up to $ 685. After that, already within the country, you can present Form I-90 to replace the Green Card. “And he stressed:” The most important thing is that they get in touch with US authorities in our embassy. They are going to guide them and know what to do. ”
