Sergio Rodríguez Beristain, a Cuban officer residing in the United States, recently gained attention for his candid message directed at fellow Cubans who feel superior to migrants holding I-220A or humanitarian parole status. “This is for those Cuban legal residents who think they are above the I-220A holders and those with humanitarian parole, and of course for all the MAGA supporters who voted for Trump and support his arbitrary actions. As a sheriff’s officer, I can tell you these are criminal and unconstitutional acts, backed by money and power, not by law and reason,” Beristain expressed in a heartfelt reflection shared on his TikTok profile @user3054932943.
Beristain criticized the lack of empathy among Cubans: “You believe that because you’re legal residents, you’re privileged, you put on your ‘privileged suit’ and think you’re different from others. You’re mocking them, calling them names like ‘scum,’ ‘parasites,’ ‘bread with steak,’ saying ‘get them out of here, there are too many people, back to Cuba, back to the streets.'” He also questioned the amnesia regarding their own origins: “It seems you’ve forgotten that once, without that piece of paper declaring you legal, you were in the same or worse situation. You’ve forgotten that you lied at the border, during interviews, omitted information, and now, as a legal resident, you mock others.”
The officer warned that legal residency doesn’t offer immunity: “Don’t think you’re out of danger. You’re even worse off because if it’s discovered that you became a citizen or legal resident under Biden or Obama, and this administration decides to undo those actions, I wonder how you will react when immigration calls and says, ‘give me your residency, your citizenship, you lied, you omitted information, deported.'”
Concluding with a message to the vulnerable, Beristain stated: “To those with I-220A and humanitarian parole, not all Cubans are laughing at you. Here is one who values and appreciates you, and I’ve helped many of you. In any way I can, I will assist with guidance and advice. Take care, community; I love you all. If the shoe fits, wear it; if not, move on. Health and luck.”
The video has garnered thousands of comments, mostly praising Beristain’s empathy: “I tip my hat to you,” “Proud to have Cubans like you,” and “That’s how you speak.” Many agreed, stating, “no one is safe here” and “residency is not a guarantee of anything.”
Other users warned: “Once they’re done with the first group, they’ll target legal residents, then naturalized citizens.” Emotional messages were also plenty: “I’m a resident and pray every day for those who entered with parole and I-220A; among them are my daughter and grandchildren.”
The majority expressed gratitude for his empathetic gesture and cautionary tone. “This man has a diamond in his heart,” “This is worth listening to,” “We need more men like you,” were some of the frequently echoed comments.
Originally from Matanzas, Beristain has utilized social media to question what he perceives as unjust immigration policies and the attitude of those forgetting their roots. In March, he warned, “When I cautioned many that this would happen, they didn’t believe me. They said I was crazy, that I thought this way because I was a ‘snitch’ and ‘communist’,” referring to the deportation risks for those legalized under Democratic administrations.
Months later, in July, he condemned the immigration center nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz” in the Everglades, describing it as “inhospitable to human life” and “an obscene violation of human rights.”
His message echoes earlier reflections within the Cuban community in the U.S., such as creator Carelis Conde’s inquiry: “Why do we engage in comparisons? Is your immigration situation any less painful than mine?” Amid a backdrop of deportations, uncertainty, and divisions within the migrant community, the officer’s voice insists on a clear call: to remember where we come from and maintain empathy for those now walking the same path.
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