Cuban Pastor, Family Arrive in U.S. after Suffering under Regime

Authorities imprisoned, fined church planter who fought for religious freedom.

By David Miller

MIAMI, July 8 (Compass Direct News) –

Rev. Carlos Lamelas, his wife Uramis and two daughters
Photo courtesy Compass Direct News

 An evangelical pastor once jailed by the regime of Fidel Castro arrived in the United States from Cuba yesterday with his family under a special resettlement program for political refugees. The Rev. Carlos Lamelas, 50, his wife Uramis and two daughters landed at Miami International Airport Thursday evening (July 7) on a direct flight from Havana. Lamelas, who once served as national president of his denomination in Cuba, was granted asylum in the United States due to persecution he has endured for more than five years at the hands of Cuban authorities. On Feb. 20, 2006, security officials arrested Lamelas on charges of “human trafficking,” but those close to him said police targeted him because he had challenged the Castro regime on religious liberty issues. Four months after his arrest, Lamelas was unexpectedly released, and in December of 2006 the state prosecuting attorney recommended acquittal on the human trafficking charge. Later that month, however, the court convicted Lamelas on a previously unannounced charge of “falsifying documents” and fined him 1,000 Cuban pesos (US$45). Lamelas said the resettlement news came as a shock, albeit a welcome one. “For our part, we have been open to the will of God, and we know He will take us where we can best serve Him,” he wrote.


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