The Cuban Heydi Sánchez Tejeda, deported to the island last Thursday, sent an emotional video to the editorial team of CiberCuba, where she shared the deep pain she experiences after being separated from her young daughter.
"My name is Heydi Sánchez Tejeda, as almost everyone has seen me, I am the girl who was deported to Cuba this Thursday," she said at the beginning of her testimony, expressing gratitude for the support she has received and recounting through tears the drama she is experiencing.
Heydi explained that her daughter, now her greatest reason for living, was conceived through in vitro fertilization after 28 years of unsuccessful fertility treatments. “I could never get pregnant. My girl is my life, she is my everything,” she confessed, revealing the deep desperation she feels being away from her.
"They are slowly killing me, every night I sleep without her, every time I see the milk flowing from my breast that I can't give her," he expressed.
In the video, the mother also shares that sometimes she can talk to her little one, who asks for the "teti" and calls for her to be by her side, a heartbreaking situation that she cannot fulfill.
Heydi made an urgent call for solidarity from everyone who can help reunify her family. "I kindly ask once again for your assistance, to do everything in your power," she cried out. "I’m missing my life, I’m missing everything. Please, put your hand on your heart and help us."
The mother also thanked everyone who has shared her story and shown concern, especially highlighting those who, as mothers, can understand the emptiness and anguish she feels being apart from her daughter, who, she says, used to sleep wrapped in her arms every night.
The case of Heydi Sánchez Tejeda has generated expressions of support on social media and among the Cuban community abroad, in a context where deportations and family separations continue to cause serious emotional and humanitarian crises.
On April 22, Heydi attended a routine appointment with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Tampa, Florida, as part of her immigration regularization process.
Despite holding the I-220B form, which allowed her to temporarily remain in the country while her deportation process was being resolved, she was unexpectedly detained and transferred to the ICE Detention Center in Miami. The next day, she was deported to Cuba on a flight that carried 82 Cuban migrants.
The deportation of Heydi left her one-year-old daughter in the United States under the care of her father, Carlos Yuniel Valle. The abrupt separation disrupted the mother-daughter bond, which is especially critical given that the child is still being breastfed.
Carlos expressed his despair and pain on social media, describing the situation as an "injustice" and stating that "they killed a mother while she was still alive".
The Cuban community in the United States reacted with deep indignation to the deportation of Heydi. On social media, numerous users expressed their dismay and condemnation, questioning current immigration policies and the lack of compassion in the enforcement of the laws.
Frequently asked questions about the deportation of Heydi Sánchez Tejeda
Why was Heydi Sánchez Tejeda deported to Cuba?
Heydi Sánchez Tejeda was deported to Cuba despite having an I-220B form, which allowed her to temporarily remain in the United States while her deportation process was being resolved. However, this document is merely a supervision order and does not guarantee protection against deportation. Even though she attended her immigration appointments and had initiated a regularization process through a family petition, her deportation was carried out due to the current more restrictive immigration policies.
What is the current situation of Heydi Sánchez's daughter?
Heydi Sánchez's one-year-old daughter remains in the United States under the care of her father, Carlos Yuniel Valle, who is a U.S. citizen. The sudden deportation abruptly disrupted the breastfeeding bond that the child had with her mother, creating an emotional crisis for the entire family.
How has the Cuban community reacted to Heydi's deportation?
The Cuban community in the United States has reacted with deep indignation and dismay at the deportation of Heydi Sánchez. Many have voiced their outrage through social media, criticizing immigration policies that allow for family separations. The situation has sparked a broad debate on the need for more compassionate immigration reforms, especially in cases involving minors.
What actions is Heydi's family taking to reunite?
Carlos Yuniel Valle, husband of Heydi, has promised to keep fighting to reunite his family. He has expressed his determination to continue with the immigration regularization process and has thanked the support received from the community and the media. The family continues to seek legal alternatives to reverse the deportation and ensure that Heydi returns to the United States with her daughter.
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