As has become customary, a Cuban family took to social media to plead for the community's solidarity to transport the body of a relative from the United States to Cuba. The deceased's name is Alexei Primelles and he died on April 27, according to information provided by relatives on social media and the GoFundMe platform.
"Hi, I'm Alberto Primelles. Unfortunately, on April 04, 27, in Phoenix, Arizona, my son Alexei suffered an accident on his first day of work. It was extremely difficult and unexpected for me and his family," Alberto's father wrote in a message posted on Facebook.
Alexei, who had only been in the United States for eight months, had come in search of a brighter future, like many Cubans who leave the island due to the difficult economic situation, lack of jobs, and an unstable social and political environment.
His arrival in the United States symbolized the opportunity to start over, support his family in Cuba, and build a more secure future for his young daughter. Like many first-time immigrants, Alexei had begun his career in a position that, while possibly demanding and low-paying, represented his first step toward financial independence.
However, that initial day turned into a catastrophe with no return. The circumstances of the incident remain unclear, but the unexpected disappearance has plunged those around him into grief.
The family is trying to raise the necessary funds to transport his remains to Nuevitas, his hometown in Cuba, where they hope to bid farewell in the company of his loved ones. "I am earnestly asking for support so I can bring him to rest in our country next to a mother and a little girl who are inconsolable," the father commented.
On social media, user Ngc Conde Conde expressed her grief by sharing the news, calling on the community for support. "It's all very sad. After only eight months in this country, he lost his life in a work-related accident. They want to send his body to our hometown of Nuevitas... Anything you can contribute makes a difference," the user said.
At the time of writing, only about $3.470 of the $25.000 needed for the funeral and transport of the body to Cuba has been raised.
This incident adds to the tragic series of Cuban citizens who have died in the United States after arriving on its territory. The Cuban community abroad, which has experienced an unprecedented surge in migration recently, faces numerous challenges in the United States, ranging from unstable employment to poor healthcare and housing conditions.
Families often lack insurance policies or savings to help them cope with emergencies or tragic situations like this, leading them to rely on community initiatives to cover the high costs of funeral services and the repatriation process.
Last Monday, the loved ones of Armando Vladimir Betancourt Audia, a young Cuban man recently murdered in Tampa, asked for financial assistance to bring his body back to Cuba and hold a fitting memorial service in his hometown. The petition was promoted by his brother, Yoandris Roche Audia, through a campaign.
The family of Néstor Luis Restoy Díaz, a Cuban man who was allegedly murdered in the United States by a friend, issued a heartfelt plea for support in the process of repatriating his body to Cuba and paying their final respects.
Similarly, relatives of Cuban Yannelis De La Caridad Casales Antón held a memorial service in her memory after her partner took her life in the early hours of March 30 in Jacksonville.
