José Daniel Ferrer, a prominent Cuban dissident and vocal critic of the Communist government, has arrived in Miami following his release from a Cuban prison. Upon landing in the United States, Ferrer immediately called for the freedom of hundreds of political prisoners still detained in Cuba. The 55-year-old activist revealed earlier this month that he made the ‘difficult decision’ to go into exile after learning that his wife could face imprisonment and their son might be sent to a juvenile detention facility. The Cuban foreign ministry stated that Ferrer and his family left the country following a ‘formal request’ from the U.S. government, emphasizing that Ferrer had given his ‘explicit acceptance.’ Ferrer, the coordinator of the Patriotic Union of Cuba, a coalition of dissident organizations, has been a relentless advocate for democracy in a country where political opposition is banned. His activism has led to multiple imprisonments, including a brief release in January 2023 as part of a Vatican-negotiated deal that saw Cuba removed from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. However, Ferrer was re-arrested three months later for allegedly violating his parole terms. He has accused Cuban authorities of subjecting him to humiliation and torture, describing his treatment as ‘cruelty without bounds.’ Fellow dissidents have labeled his departure as a ‘forced exile.’ U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised Ferrer’s leadership and advocacy, stating that his efforts posed a significant threat to the Cuban regime. Rubio also urged the international community to hold Cuba accountable for its human rights abuses and demand the release of over 700 political prisoners.