Broadcaster Frank Abel Gómez Requests Political Asylum in Miami

January 30, 2022

Cuban broadcaster Frank Abel Gómez Bernal, who worked for decades in Cuban radio and television, requested political asylum in the United States.

His case has sparked controversy in the community of exiled Cubans regarding the veracity of his claims, but he assures that he never involved himself in politics. Frank Abel was a member of the presentation team for Los Lucas and was the substitute for Marino Luzardo on the popular program De Tarde en Casa alongside Raquel Mayedo, he also hosted the popular Radio Taíno program from 5 to 7.

"My work in Cuba is not political, I do another type of programming. I was an ordinary citizen," he said to journalist Javier Díaz in an interview for the Univision network.

Fran Abel is in Miami after U.S. immigration authorities released him with the I-220A, a permit that allows him to remain free under immigration supervision.

He arrived at the southern border of the United States with an official passport from the La Habana regime.

"It was not my intention to cause problems for anyone but it was my only way to leave that place," he said.

Frank Abel assures that in Cuba professionals are starving and that this is one of the reasons he decided to leave the country.

"There was nothing professionally lacking for me, I had my job but I was starving to death," he commented.

The renowned broadcaster worked in radio and television on the island in programs such as El Exitazo, from Radio Taíno, and De tarde en casa, alongside Raquel Mayedo.

When journalist Javier Díaz asked him if he had taken positions against the San Isidro Movement and the 27N, he answered flatly that he had not. "That is completely untrue," he assured.

However, on social media several journalism professionals claim that he did publish messages against Cuban artists who protested in front of the Ministry of Culture.

Regarding his aspirations in Miami and the possibility of continuing his professional career, he stated: "I didn't come basically for the media, that is, to achieve the same thing I had done in Cuba. I can't answer that, it's a logical problem of the time that will pass."