Gerardo Hernández Denounces ICE Deaths, Faces Backlash Over Cuban Prisons

Gerardo Hernández, a Cuban official, recently posted on Facebook about the deaths of Cubans in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. He called out certain U.S. politicians for ignoring these deaths, specifically mentioning the case of Denny Adán González.

Hernández shared an image related to the recent death of González, a 33-year-old Cuban man who died on April 28th in a detention center in Georgia. U.S. authorities suggested it might have been self-harm, but González's family disputes this and is demanding an independent investigation.

The post was met with a strong and largely critical reaction on social media. Many users responded with the same repeated question: "And the deaths in Cuban prisons?" This quickly became the central theme of the online discussion, highlighting a perceived double standard.

Several other recent cases of Cuban citizens dying in ICE custody have been reported by human rights organizations in 2026. These incidents are reportedly under review by independent medical and legal entities within the United States.

However, the social media conversation expanded to compare U.S. detention centers with Cuba's prison system. International organizations have published reports detailing deaths of inmates in Cuban prisons and alleging mistreatment. Human rights groups indicate dozens of inmate deaths in Cuban prisons in recent years, along with claims of poor living conditions.

These reports are often used by critics of the Cuban government to challenge official narratives on human rights. The social media exchange reflects the polarized debate surrounding migration issues, prison systems, and the political use of deaths that occur while individuals are in custody.