Statement From Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez On The Arrival Of Cuban Dissident Jose Daniel Ferrer García To Miami
(Miami-Dade, FL) - October 13, 2025 - "Today, Miami welcomes José Daniel Ferrer García, one of the bravest voices of our time. He is a man who has endured imprisonment, torture, and humiliation simply for demanding what every human being deserves: freedom and dignity. For years, Jose Daniel and his family have suffered unimaginable cruelty at the hands of a regime that fears truth and silences hope. His arrival in Miami is not an act of surrender but a testament to courage and perseverance.
Even after decades of oppression, the Cuban spirit remains unbroken. His faith and his love for Cuba burn brighter than ever. To José Daniel and his family, I extend my deepest respect, admiration, and unwavering support. You are not alone. The Cuban exile community and all who believe in freedom stand beside you. Here, you will find not exile but solidarity - a city that remembers the pain of those who fled tyranny and continues to fight for those who cannot yet speak freely.
To the dictators who still cling to power in Havana, let this moment serve as a warning. You can silence voices, but you cannot silence truth. The eyes of the world are watching, and history will remember who stood for liberty and who stood for oppression. The day will come when Cuba will rise again, and those responsible for decades of cruelty and bloodshed will face the truth they have long tried to bury. To the people of Cuba, know this: you are not forgotten. You are not alone. We will continue to fight until the dictatorship ends, until your children can grow up in a nation free from fear, and until liberty shines once more across our beloved island.
As Oswaldo Payá reminded us, "la noche no será eterna."The darkness will not last forever - Cuba will be free again. I want to express my deepest gratitude to President Donald J. Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the entire Trump Administration, and the Cuban American National Foundation for their steadfast commitment to the cause of freedom and for supporting the efforts that made it possible for heroes like Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia to reunite with their families and continue their fight from free soil. God bless Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia, his family, and the Cuban people. God bless all who stand for liberty. God bless Miami-Dade County and the United States of America."
Dariel Fernandez
Tax Collector - Miami-Dade County
