In the midst of new resolution talks between America and Cuba there have been many recent developments. These discussions have resulted in many changes in how the United States and Cuba view one another. In the midst of these revisions, there will be a few detainees to be released on both sides of the border. One of the detainees who has already been freed is the well-known Alan Gross.

The social development professional was held in a Cuban prison until last Wednesday. Gross had worked for over 25 years throughout the world, in over 50 countries and regions, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Haiti, and Africa. Gross also had a hand in generating work in Gaza and the West Bank, according to some sources. He was never in any type of altercations when visiting any country he sought to help support, until the program in Cuba.

When Gross was a subcontractor for the United States government, through the U.S. Agency of International Development he was deployed to Cuba. Initially when he was sent to the country the goal was to  aid a Jewish community with communications devices which were brought in without the proper authorizations. Through other reports being released, the operation to Cuba was a little more in depth.

Officials inside the government have stated that this program was dangerous and unpredictable. These experts have disclosed details such as satellites being stored in boogie boards and finances sent to help with dismantling the Castro regime. All this stemmed from a program known as the “democracy promotion” under the Bush leadership. The objective of this arrangement was to eliminate Cuba’s information blockade. This program fetched a whopping $6 million dollars, and Alan Gross was a key player. He acquired half a million dollars without even being able to speak Spanish. He had also never been to the country prior to the contract.

In late December 2009, Gross was accused of working for American intelligence services, which was contested by the U.S. Government and Gross’s lawyers. The Cuban government had held him without charging him or a trial for over a year after the allegations took place, eventually sentencing the New York resident to 15 years in a Cuban prison. Shortly after his arrest he was placed in a maximum security infirmary because of his health status and age.

The condition of Gross’s health drastically deteriorated while in custody. He lost a hundred pounds and began to suffer from various physical ailments, which have become serious. While in captivity, his mother, wife, and daughter have been through hardships, both his mother and daughter having cancer, and his daughter a double mastectomy.

After serving five of the 15 years, Gross has been released and on his way back home to be with his family. He has said it is a blessing to be a citizen of this country and is now on the road to rebuilding his life.