The US State Department celebrates the departure of José Daniel Ferrer from Cuba and demands the release of “more than 700 political prisoners” on the Island.
MIAMI, United States. — The US State Department celebrated this Monday the arrival of José Daniel Ferrer to US territory and demanded the release of “the more than 700 political prisoners unjustly detained” in Cuba, while calling on the international community to demand accountability from the Cuban regime for its abuses, as stated in a statement of the Office of the Spokesperson of that federal entity.
In the text, the State Department states: “Today José Daniel Ferrer, a brave leader of Cuba’s pro-democracy movement, arrived in the United States after suffering years of abuse, torture, and threats to his life in Cuba.” And he adds: “Ferrer’s leadership and tireless defense of the Cuban people were a threat to the regime, which imprisoned and tortured him repeatedly. We are glad that Ferrer is now free from the regime’s oppression.”
The statement also highlights the direction of policy towards the Island: “The Trump Administration maintains its commitment to the aspiration of the Cuban people to free themselves from tyranny and to support democracy, prosperity and fundamental freedoms. We call for the immediate release of the more than 700 political prisoners unjustly detained and we urge the international community to join us in holding the Cuban regime accountable for its abuses and influence. malignant throughout our region.”
The tireless defense of @jdanielferrer of democracy and the well-being of the Cuban people is an inspiration. We hope that, from the United States, you will continue to advocate for the rights and freedoms of the Cuban people. We are pleased that he is finally free from the oppression of the regime.… pic.twitter.com/0JTZvWwRlE
— Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (@WHAAsstSecty) October 13, 2025
In parallel, the Office of Western Hemisphere Affairs posted a message on X in which he described Ferrer as an inspiration: “José Daniel Ferrer’s tireless defense of democracy and the well-being of the Cuban people is an inspiration.”
The entity indicated that it hopes that, “from the United States,” the opposition leader “continues advocating for the rights and freedoms of the Cuban people.”
“We are glad that he is finally free from the oppression of the regime,” he added.
Also the Secretary of State, the Cuban-American Marco Rubio, welcomed Ferrer on his X account. “After years of repression, torture and abuse by the Cuban regime, Ferrer and his family are in the United States. The desire of the Cuban people for fundamental freedoms and democracy is an inspiration for many. We reaffirm our commitment to a free, fair and democratic Cuba,” said the official.
This Monday, Ferrer arrived in Miami with his family, after accepting the forced exile imposed by the Havana regime as a condition for his release. The prominent opponent was received by Cuban-American congressmen Mario Díaz-Balart and Carlos Giménez.
.@SecRubio: Welcome to freedom, José Daniel Ferrer (@jdanielferrer). After years of repression, torture and abuse by the Cuban regime, Ferrer and his family are in the United States. The desire of the Cuban people for fundamental freedoms and democracy is a… https://t.co/P04HwyFtY6
— USA in Spanish (@USAenEspanol) October 13, 2025
Giménez told the press that two members of the State Department traveled to Cuba to coordinate Ferrer’s departure and that they refused to return without him, but there were no concessions to the Cuban dictatorship. The congressman highlighted the role of Marco Rubio to achieve the departure from Cuba of the leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU).
“The fight continues. It is the same José Daniel with the same fighting spirit,” Díaz-Balart declared to CubaNet. The congressman added that Ferrer needs to take care of his health and his family.
Interviewed by the press present at the airport, the brother of the opposition leader, Luis Enrique Ferrer, stressed that there was no negotiation with the island’s regime. “We will not accept a can of soda that the American government will give for the release of José Daniel. We made that clear and we spoke about it with the Embassy. [de EE.UU. en La Habana]”.
Luis Enrique Ferrer maintained that the “hardest” decision his brother has made in his life was agreeing to go into exile. “He arrives with a broken soul,” he said. In interview with CubaNet He declared that his family and friends will prioritize giving him medical attention so that he can recover from the beatings and torture received in Cuban prisons.
“If communism commits atrocities in the streets, imagine what happens in prisons,” he said.
At the beginning of this month, when Ferrer’s decision to accept exile became known, Díaz-Balart expressed that, after years of imprisonment, beatings and torture for demanding freedom, he deserved “a welcome worthy of a hero.”
In a letter released in mid-September, the opposition leader himself explained that he accepted exile to protect his wife and children, and at the same time denounced the “humiliating” conditions and cruel treatment to which he was subjected during his imprisonment.
The Cuban American National Foundation (CANF) noted that his arrival in the United States marks a new chapter in the fight for Cuban freedom and represents a moral victory for the Cuban democratic movement.
Also the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba officially informed about his departure of the national territory, but omitted any reference to the arbitrariness, torture and political repression that Ferrer suffered during his imprisonment, and presented his exile as a legal procedure and in accordance with due process.
