A Cuban man who arrived in the United States during the Mariel Boatlift of 1980 has spent the past four years living on the streets of Miami following nearly a lifetime in prison. "What I'm going through is really tough," he shared tearfully.
On TikTok, a user known as Conducta, who highlights cases of homeless Cubans, brought attention to this man's story. Now in his sixties, the man serves as a cautionary tale of how poor decisions can derail futures, even in a land of opportunity like the United States.
Born in the neighborhood of Santa Felicia in Marianao, Havana, the elderly man recounted his imprisonment at age 25. Sentenced to 38 years, he faced additional complications that extended his release until 2021.
Currently, he resides on the streets alongside his partner, a Puerto Rican woman who is nearly blind due to cataracts. Having spent so much time incarcerated, he hesitates to seek help from shelters, and the couple relies on the kindness of strangers to get by.
His immediate goal is to find employment that will allow him to "move forward" and improve their circumstances.
Challenges Facing Former Inmates in the U.S.
What challenges does this former inmate face after his release?
He struggles with homelessness, hesitates to go to shelters, and seeks employment to improve his life while caring for his nearly blind partner.
How long was he incarcerated, and what led to his extended sentence?
He was sentenced to 38 years but faced additional complications that delayed his release until 2021.