The Cuban singer-songwriter Descemer Bueno has voiced his disapproval of the United States government for denying humanitarian parole to his mother, Mercedes Martínez, who is battling Alzheimer's disease. Bueno released a video featuring his mother, filmed in the Dominican Republic, the only place they have been able to meet, as he is unable to travel to Cuba.
"Here I am, grateful for everything you did for me and equally thankful to God for allowing me to share this moment away from all the needs, deficiencies, neglect, and abandonment that force us to make great sacrifices of all kinds, living life outside our island," Bueno lamented.
He expressed frustration that, despite applying for parole two years ago, he has witnessed many former supporters of the regime using that route to leave the country.
"Many who once shouted 'Patria o Muerte' (Homeland or Death) have made it to the U.S., while some of us from 'Patria y Vida' (Homeland and Life) have been left behind. Thank God the Dominican Republic stood up for us Cubans while the first world turned its back," he wrote.
Last October, Bueno was able to spend some days in the Dominican Republic with his mother and other family members who traveled from Cuba to reunite with him.
"It took four years and eight months during which, due to security issues, I could not see my mother in my homeland, and for the same reasons, I had to bring her to this beautiful island filled with incredibly kind people," he commented.
In a video recorded by his partner Darlenis Pérez, Bueno is seen pushing his elderly mother in a wheelchair. In an earlier video, the artist shared the emotional moment when he kissed Mercedes for the first time in years, as his political stance against the dictatorship had prevented him from returning to Cuba.
Descemer Bueno's Struggle for Family Reunification
Why did Descemer Bueno criticize the U.S. government?
Descemer Bueno criticized the U.S. government for denying humanitarian parole to his mother, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease.
Where was Descemer Bueno able to reunite with his mother?
Descemer Bueno was able to reunite with his mother in the Dominican Republic, as he cannot travel to Cuba.
What challenges has Descemer Bueno faced due to his political stance?
Due to his political stance against the Cuban dictatorship, Bueno has been unable to travel to Cuba, resulting in a lengthy separation from his mother.