Amelia Calzadilla arrives in Miami and reveals the reasons for her trip

The Cuban activist Amelia Calzadilla, known for her direct critiques of the Cuban regime and her advocacy for social causes, arrived in Miami this week for a brief yet emotionally charged trip.

Through posts on her Facebook account, the young mother and communicator explained the reasons for her visit and took the opportunity to dispel rumors about her future.

Since arriving in the United States, Calzadilla has shared personal reflections on the meaning of this journey, where the joy of reunion intertwines with the pain of mourning.

"You can have multiple emotions at the same time," she wrote on Wednesday, describing how her arrival in Miami has been both an intimate celebration and a deeply sorrowful experience.

One of the most symbolic moments of his visit was his first stop after getting off the plane: the Versalles restaurant, an icon of the Cuban community in exile. "My very Cuban family felt it was essential for me to visit," he proudly shared.

However, the main reason for her trip is neither tourism nor politics, but solidarity. Amelia traveled to Miami to support Eliannis Ramírez, the mother of the Cuban boy Damir Ortiz, who passed away on April 5 at Nicklaus Children's Hospital in that city.

Damir, only 10 years old, died after a tough battle against a severe infection worsened by medical negligence he suffered in Cuba, according to repeated reports by Calzadilla and other activists.

"The main reason for this trip is to be able to accompany Eliannis and Idelisa Diasniurka Salcedo Verdecia in saying goodbye to little Damir this coming Sunday, April 20," she explained in a previous post.

She also clarified that she traveled alone, for a few days, and does not plan to stay in the United States. "My children, my husband, my home, and my job are waiting for me in Madrid," she stated.

Calzadilla also made it clear that he did not receive any kind of external funding or institutional support to cover his travel expenses: "Ordinary workers in the modern world can afford their vacations through their modest efforts," he wrote, addressing those who have tried to delegitimize his trip with malicious speculation.

From Spain, Amelia had closely followed Damir's case.

As soon as the news of his passing became known, she went live to share her grief and denounce the critical situation of the Cuban healthcare system. "It is a very sad day for our people," she said then. "I am a mother. The mere idea of losing one of my children would not only make me extremely unhappy, but it would also end my life. I cannot conceive of life without them."

Amelia has turned her grief into a driving force for advocacy. She has emphasized that Damir's death is not an isolated incident, but rather a reflection of the collapse of the Cuban healthcare system. "They can no longer turn a blind eye to the profound humanitarian crisis facing the people of Cuba," she stressed.

Since she left Cuba in November 2023 with her husband and their three children, Calzadilla has maintained an active, although occasional, presence on social media.

In April 2024, she announced that she had already found a job in Spain, in a place where -as she said- they value her knowledge and effort, and with her salary "I can adequately support my family," she commented with satisfaction.

Amelia Calzadilla rose to prominence in June 2022 when a video of hers went viral. In it, she harshly criticized the ruling elite of the island and demanded real change.

"How much longer will the people continue to pay for your comforts?" he questioned firmly, marking the beginning of his role as one of the most visible voices of Cuban activism on social media.

Frequently Asked Questions about Amelia Calzadilla's trip to Miami and the case of Damir Ortiz