Cuban Asylum Seekers Need Our Support

Hello. My name is Jim O'Donnell.

Recently, a good friend of mine from Cuba, Carlos Gonzales, was forced to escape the island with his wife, Naile and their teenage son, Ruben, after learning that the Cuban government was about to arrest him for questioning the Cuban government and building friendships with Americans like myself.

I am a frequent visitor to Cuba where I teach photography workshops. I met Carlos in Havana in 2016 when he worked as a guide for a number of tourism companies catering to international travelers. Carlos has become like a brother to me. He is a hard working, ridiculously generous and kind human being who speaks out for what is right and just in the world.

Carlos is the father of several grown children and a former lawyer for the government. However, he could not continue to work for what he considered a corrupt system and so he changed careers. Still, even from the tourism industry, Carlos' vocal critiques of the Cuban government brought unwanted attention to him and his family. He learned, through old friends within the government that he was about to be framed for sedition and jailed for thirty years.

That is when the family decided to escape the island nation.

First, they made their way to Nicaragua then into Mexico along the hellish migrant trail. They traveled by truck, foot, boat and bus. They were harassed and threatened by drug gangs, cartels, coyotes and the Mexican police. After five months in Mexico, they were able to cross the border into Texas and ask for asylum.

Now, they have about 18 months to wait before the asylum hearing. They are legally required to settle in my home state of Colorado while they await the hearing in Summer 2025.

Carlos and Naile accumulated about $14,000 in debt on their way to the USA and they need assistance in getting settled in Colorado. Thanks to another generous friend, they do have a place to stay.

I am asking YOUR help to get Carlos and his family settled in the United States. I am hoping to raise a minimum of $10,000 to help Carlos pay his debts and to help get him and his family to get settled. Carlos is the type of immigrant who will be able to make his way in our country through hard work and a creative spirit. I have no doubt his future is bright, he simply needs help to get his feet on the ground.

Any contribution is very welcome. Thank you so much for your support. Jim