Cuban independent journalist and activist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada has officially joined Martí Noticias, the digital platform of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB), a U.S. government agency responsible for Radio and TV Martí.
In a Facebook post, Mayeta expressed his pride, stating, "Proud to be part of the great Martí Noticias family, my home since my younger days and now as a more mature individual," alongside photos taken at the OCB headquarters in Miami, in front of the Newsroom sign.
This announcement comes just weeks after Mayeta successfully navigated a protracted immigration ordeal that threatened his deportation back to Cuba.
On July 1, 2026, his attorneys, Liudmila Marcelo and Yelena Guerra, persuaded the Immigration Court to drop all charges against him, effectively halting the deportation process and allowing him to apply for permanent residency through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Mayeta had arrived in the United States in 2019 under a J-1 visa associated with a journalism scholarship, which left him in a legal limbo for seven years, as this type of visa requires a waiver or two-year residency in the home country before adjusting immigration status.
In June 2026, the journalist publicly shared his immigration plight, warning that deportation would mean imprisonment in Cuba due to his activism and journalistic work against the regime.
The Road from Santiago de Cuba to Exile
A native of Santiago de Cuba, Mayeta joined the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) in 2011 and initiated the citizen journalism project "Kuba x Dentro," documenting blackouts, police repression, shortages, and corruption in eastern Cuba.
Before going into exile, he contributed to independent media such as CubaNet and 14ymedio.
The Birth of a Viral Movement
His name gained international attention with the viral phenomenon "¡Súbelo, Mayeta!" This slogan originated from a song by Santiago-based urban artists Lico Wayne, Tino Mán, and producer Asdrúbal Reyna, becoming a popular call for citizen denunciation on social media.
The slogan transitioned from screens to streets in October 2024, when young people in Santiago de Cuba led a protest conga, chanting the phrase amidst a nationwide electrical collapse, establishing Mayeta as a key figure in citizen denunciation in Cuba.
By joining Martí Noticias, Mayeta transitions from his role as an independent citizen journalist to an institutional media platform with greater reach and resources, maintaining connections he acknowledges from his earlier days as a journalist.
Yosmany Mayeta's Journey and Impact
What prompted Yosmany Mayeta's move to Martí Noticias?
Yosmany Mayeta joined Martí Noticias after successfully resolving his immigration issues, which allowed him to remain in the United States without the threat of deportation back to Cuba.
How did Yosmany Mayeta gain recognition in Cuba?
Mayeta's recognition grew with the viral slogan "¡Súbelo, Mayeta!", which became a rallying cry for citizen protests against the Cuban regime, further amplified by a protest conga in Santiago de Cuba.