The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported the Cuban Heydi Sánchez Tejeda this Thursday, who was arrested the day before during a routine appointment at the immigration offices in Tampa, Florida.
The woman, a breastfeeding mother, was sent back to Cuba on the flight with 82 migrants that arrived in Havana this Thursday, while her one-year-old daughter stayed in U.S. territory, under the care of her husband, Carlos Yuniel Valle, who confirmed this to CiberCuba.
Valle -who is an American citizen- wrote to the editor of our site a brief message filled with sorrow: "They deported her, my brother".
The case has sparked outrage among the migrant community, as the minor was still being breastfed and the sudden deportation traumatic interrupted the mother-daughter bond.
Sánchez had attended his immigration appointment carrying the I-220B form, a document that allows migrants to temporarily remain in the United States while their deportation process is being resolved.
However, within the framework of the new, more restrictive policies imposed by ICE under the administration of Donald Trump, holders of this document have become frequent targets for detentions, even if they have ongoing legal proceedings.
The Cuban woman had requested the regularization of her status through family petition more than two years ago, but she had not yet received a definitive response from the authorities.
Despite this, he strictly adhered to the conditions imposed by ICE, including showing up on time for all immigration appointments.
Sánchez was repatriated on a flight that transported 82 Cuban migrants from the United States to Havana on Thursday morning. According to the Ministry of Interior of Cuba, this operation brings the total to 450 Cubans deported so far in 2025, through 15 return flights from various countries.
This is not an isolated case. In recent weeks, several Cubans have been detained under similar circumstances.
Such is the case of Víctor Manuel Izquierdo Peralta, a 21-year-old also arrested in Tampa during a migration appointment, despite processing his legal residence through marriage to a U.S. citizen.
ICE informed him that he had to wait for the resolution of the case from Cuba, despite not having violated any of the imposed conditions.
The deportation flights from the United States to Cuba were resumed in April 2023 by the administration of Joe Biden.
Although its frequency has been relatively low—averaging one flight per month—each flight transports more than 50 people.
Cuban authorities review the records before authorizing the entry of each repatriated individual, which limits the total number of effective deportations.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Deportation of Heydi Sánchez Tejeda
Why was Heydi Sánchez Tejeda deported?
Heydi Sánchez Tejeda was deported by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), despite having an I-220B form that allowed her to remain temporarily in the country while her deportation process was being resolved. The deportation is part of ICE's stricter policies under the administration of Donald Trump.
What is the situation of Heydi Sánchez's daughter following her deportation?
The daughter of Heydi, who is just a year old, remained in the United States under the care of her father, Carlos Yuniel Valle, who is a U.S. citizen. The sudden deportation has disrupted the mother-daughter bond, causing great outrage and concern in the migrant community.
What impact does the tightening of ICE policies have on Cuban migrants?
The tightening of ICE policies has turned migrants with blank I-220B forms into frequent targets for detention, even if they have ongoing legal proceedings. This has raised concern and fear within the Cuban migrant community, which faces an increasing risk of deportation.
How has the Cuban community reacted to the recent deportations?
The Cuban community has reacted with outrage to cases like that of Heydi Sánchez Tejeda, denouncing the deportations as inhumane acts and mobilizing to demand a review of the cases. The separation of families has been a critical point in the discussion about immigration policies in the United States.
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