After years of striving to emigrate, selling the home inherited from his grandparents, and falling victim to two alleged scams in different countries, Yehan Perdomo from Matanzas finds himself in a dire predicament: he remains stranded in Cuba. The lawyer he hired in Paraguay, he claims, failed to complete his immigration paperwork and has not returned the money he paid.
The Paraguayan newspaper Crónica reported Yehan's ordeal, detailing how he handed over $1,000 to a lawyer to manage his refugee application with the National Commission for Stateless People and Refugees (CONARE), along with other documents to regularize his immigration status.
Unfortunately, none of that materialized. Yehan and his mother arrived in Paraguay in July 2025, crossing from Brazil via the Friendship Bridge. Their plan was to settle in Asunción, but they ended up in Ciudad del Este. There, through a lawyer Yehan met during a work stint in Brazil, they were referred to a colleague based in Presidente Franco.
Legal Hurdles and Unfulfilled Promises
Yehan explained that the lawyer committed to processing their refugee claim and managing an immigration mechanism that would even facilitate future family reunification. However, a CONARE official warned them that the procedure was not being handled correctly. Yehan stated that the lawyer asked them not to disclose their association with her.
While awaiting a response, Yehan and his mother spent months without immigration documents, which prevented them from legally working, opening bank accounts, or accessing basic services. The situation worsened when Yehan's mother fell ill, prompting an urgent return to Cuba. Yehan accompanied her.
Financial and Emotional Toll
Before leaving Paraguay, Yehan demanded a refund. He claims the lawyer only returned $300 and promised to repay the remainder in monthly installments, a promise that was never kept. Back in Cuba, he encountered another obstacle: to return to Paraguay, he needed an invitation letter, supposedly only obtainable through the same lawyer.
Yehan alleges he attempted numerous times to contact her, only to find himself blocked on WhatsApp. After reaching her via family, she agreed to prepare the document for an additional fee. The letter, however, never arrived.
Since then, Yehan has made several trips from Matanzas to the Paraguayan Embassy in Havana seeking a resolution. He has also sent letters to Paraguay's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Congress, and President Santiago Peña, all to no avail.
The Broader Issue of Immigration Scams
His frustration grew when Paraguay's Supreme Court and Public Defender's Office in Alto Paraná informed him that he could only file a criminal complaint for alleged fraud if physically present in Paraguay—impossible due to his lack of documentation.
This is not Yehan's first financial loss in his quest to emigrate. In 2022, as documented by Diario Las Américas, he sold his grandparents' home to fund a journey to the United States. During this time, he paid $4,600 to a Mexican lawyer and a Cuban couple for a supposed immigration amparo that turned out to be fraudulent.
Added to this was the travel cost, estimated at around $3,600. He was eventually detained at Cancun airport and deported to Cuba a week later, accumulating losses of nearly $10,000 in that attempt.
Yehan's experience highlights a significant issue affecting many Cuban migrants: networks of fake lawyers and agents who exploit individuals seeking to leave the island by promising to regularize immigration processes or obtain documents in exchange for hefty fees.
Despite everything, Yehan remains determined to start anew outside Cuba. "The only thing left for me, as soon as I can, is to leave here," he said following his deportation from Mexico in 2022. Four years later, that sentiment continues to define his reality.
Understanding the Challenges of Cuban Migrants
What legal challenges do Cuban migrants face?
Cuban migrants often encounter legal challenges such as dealing with fraudulent legal advisors, lack of proper documentation, and inability to file complaints without being physically present in the country where the fraud occurred.
How do scams affect Cuban migration attempts?
Scams involving false promises of legal immigration processes can lead to significant financial loss and emotional distress for Cuban migrants, often leaving them stranded without options to continue their journey legally.
What steps can Cuban migrants take to avoid scams?
To avoid scams, Cuban migrants should verify the credentials of legal advisors, seek help from legitimate organizations, and thoroughly research any required legal procedures.