On July 11, 2021, a spontaneous street protest in San Antonio de los Baños, near Havana, went viral on social media and thousands took to the streets all over Cuba, marching peacefully and chanting for freedom. Authorities violently put down the protests, militarized the country, and arrested thousands; at least 1,555 detentions were documented by the group Justicia 11J. Peaceful demonstrations and arrests have continued all over the country; to date, at least 909 individuals have been sentenced to prison, 773 are still in custody, and 84 have been forced into exile. After the protests, the Cuban government enabled and encouraged a huge mass exodus that has cost many lives; in 2022 alone, Cuba Archive reported 263 deaths and disappearances of Cubans fleeing the country by land or sea. In the 22 months from July 202 to May 2023, 391,282 border encounters with Cubans, presumed entries, have been reported in the U.S. alone.
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