She left Cuba as a child. Here’s what freedom taught her
April 2, 2026
Judy Pino is the national spokesperson and marketing manager for The LIBRE Initiative.
When Judy Pino left Cuba for the United States, she was still a child.
Living with her parents in a completely new country, she had to learn a new language, go to a new school, and adapt to new customs. For any immigrant arriving in the U.S., whether they’re a kid or not, getting used to this new way of life is hard. Freedom is not easy — but it’s worth it.
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In many immigrant homes, there’s a phrase often heard during those early years:
“No es fácil.” It’s not easy.
Freedom isn’t natural for those who fled authoritarian countries and have never experienced it.
For some, the habits that make democracy work — free speech, entrepreneurship, personal responsibility, and active citizenship — can be as hard to learn as a new language.
But across the United States, immigrant communities — especially those who fled communist regimes — show something hopeful: People can learn to embrace freedom and become its most stalwart defenders.
What life under authoritarian rule looks like
Before coming to the U.S., life looked different for many immigrants coming from authoritarian countries.
In Cuba, the Communist Party has ruled for more than 60 years. Political opposition is banned, there’s no independent media, and speaking out can get you incarcerated.
There’s also no free economy — there’s little (or nothing) you can do without the explicit approval of the government.
Over time, systems like this shape daily life. Many people focus on survival and getting through their day-to-day: looking for their next meal, dealing with shortages, and avoiding confrontation with authorities.
Venezuela followed a similar path.
Over the past two decades, power became more concentrated under socialist leaders who weakened democratic institutions, banned political opponents, destroyed independent media, and repressed their citizens.
At the same time, the economy collapsed. Millions of Venezuelans left the country searching for stability and opportunity.
In both countries, authoritarian rule weakened the habits that help democratic societies work and thrive.
Starting over and rebuilding
For many immigrants, the first years in the United States are about starting over.
Professionals have to take jobs beneath their skill levels, families rebuild their savings from scratch, and children adjust to new schools, often repeating a grade because they don’t yet speak the language.
For those who’ve fled authoritarian countries, freedom is something they must learn to live out every day.
As Judy writes in her op-ed at USA Today:
Those newly released from authoritarian systems must learn the rule of law — even when it’s inconvenient. That money must be earned. Those rights come with obligations. That respect has to be mutual.
They’ve come from countries where the government lives off the people — now they have to learn to live in a country where the government works for the people.
From survivors to defenders of freedom
And more often than not, they succeed.
Look at cities like Miami. Cuban and Venezuelan immigrants built thriving communities there. People who once lived under a dictatorship are now the lifeblood of a vibrant, dynamic, and prosperous global city.
What’s more, they become exemplary citizens and strong defenders of American liberties.
That’s not surprising.
They remember what life was like before.
They remember censorship. They remember surveillance. They remember shortages and restrictions. They remember what it feels like when elections don’t really give people a choice.
That’s why so many immigrants feel a responsibility to protect freedom and pass it on to the next generation.
Take one small step for freedom
That’s why The LIBRE Initiative was founded 15 years ago. We know freedom is something precious that needs to be defended, and that all of us need to step up and do our part.
And now that America is turning 250 years old, it’s more important than ever before for all Americans to step up and defend our freedoms.
Here at LIBRE, we launched the One Small Step (Un Pasito) campaign.
We’re inspiring, educating, and mobilizing Latinos across America to defend the values that have made America exceptional and free.