By Nicolau Cucubica
When I stepped off the plane in Houston on a tourist visa, I couldn’t have imagined that immigration authorities would soon detain me. What began as a supposed 72-hour hold stretched into an agonizing 19 months. I endured five deportation attempts and was treated like a criminal despite my desperate and credible fear of returning to Angola.
In February 2021, I was finally released, reuniting with my family in Maine. But freedom came with a shadow. As an undocumented immigrant, I live each day under the suffocating fear of deportation, dreading the possibility of being torn away from the community that has given me hope and belonging.
I am Nicolau Cucubica, a 55-year-old undocumented immigrant from Angola living in Maine. Like many others, I fled my homeland to escape persecution, leaving behind everything I knew to seek safety.
My journey to the United States in 2019 was a leap of faith—a chance to rebuild. Instead, I encountered detention, fear, and an uncertain future.
In June 2019, hundreds of African migrants, including Angolans, Congolese, and Cameroonians, arrived in Portland, Maine, after a grueling journey from the U.S.-Mexico border. Exhausted but hopeful, they found more than just shelter—they found compassion.
Families, churches, and community organizations rallied, offering food, warmth, and dignity. For a brief moment, Portland became a beacon—a glimpse of America’s ideals at their finest.
I was not among those who arrived in Portland that summer, but I felt the ripples of their journey and the warmth of the community that embraced them. But this reception starkly contrasts the federal government’s cold indifference.
The people of Portland and surrounding communities have shown what is possible when compassion outweighs fear. They have provided necessities and extended dignity, reminding us that we are more than the challenges we face. Churches opened their doors, local families took in strangers, and volunteers offered translation services, job support, and cultural integration assistance.
But community support can only go so far. We need action at the federal level. I urgently plead with President Biden to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Angolans and Congolese and Special Humanitarian Parole for Cameroonians. These designations would provide immediate relief to thousands like me, offering protection from deportation and the ability to work legally. TPS would allow us to build on the foundation of kindness we’ve received here in Maine, enabling us to contribute fully to our communities.
Just as Biden granted TPS to Ukraine and Special Humanitarian Parole to Ukrainian migrants following the Russian invasion, he has the executive authority to provide immediate relief to Angolan, Congolese, and Cameroonian migrants here in the United States who fled violence, instability, and persecution in their homelands.
Biden’s recent trip to Angola and his meetings with the leaders of Congo and Angola presented an unparalleled opportunity to address the humanitarian crisis facing African migrants in the U.S. During the trip, the president emphasized the importance of investing in the continent, declaring, “The United States is all in on Africa. All in on Africa,” adding, “We’ve already, in — my administration alone — invested over $3 billion in Angola thus far. The future of the world is here in Africa and Angola.”
Unfortunately, that opportunity to address the crisis was not realized. However, the promise of the Biden administration’s commitment to Africa remains while he is in office.
This week, Angolans, Congolese, and other Central Africans are conducting congressional outreach in 10 states—Florida, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Texas—and at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., urging lawmakers to support immigration relief.
I urge President Biden to adopt the Cameroon American Council’s 5Rs Framework:
- Remembrance: Honor Angola’s independence struggle and the historical injustices African immigrants face.
- Reparations: Establish the HR40 commission through executive action to study and address anti-Black racial injustices stemming from slavery.
- Revitalization: Promote language access and preserve African Lusophone culture and history, especially within the diaspora.
- Refugee Support: Advocate for TPS for Central African nations and Special Humanitarian Parole for Cameroonian migrants
- Reconnection: Strengthen cultural ties within the diaspora, fostering a sense of belonging and community.
I also call on New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, Senate Africa Subcommittee Chair, and Maine Senators to press for immediate action. If President Biden fails to act, we risk the specter of a future administration hostile to immigrants, one that could undo the progress made in communities like Portland. We cannot afford to let mass deportations and fear erase the strides we’ve made in providing safety and dignity to those seeking refuge.
My story is just one of many, but it reflects the greater truth: African immigrants are resilient and driven by hope. We are doctors, teachers, laborers, and dreamers eager to contribute to the country that welcomed us. We carry with us the lessons of our past and the promise of a better future.
Maine’s example proves that America can live up to its ideals. Now it’s time for President Biden and Congress to follow suit. TPS and Special Humanitarian Parole are not just policies—they are lifelines. These protections are the difference between living in constant fear and living with dignity, between being invisible and contributing to a society that benefits from our talents and hard work.
Without this decisive change, undocumented migrants like me remain in limbo, unable to fully participate in or give back to the society that has shown us so much kindness.
Let us not waste this moment. Let us honor the courage of those who risk everything in search of peace and security. Let us build a nation that truly lives up to its highest ideals. Maine has embraced us; it’s time for the rest of America to do the same. The time for action is now.
