Cuban American launches campaign to reverse the deportation of his wife and reunite his family in the U.S.

Carlos Yuniel Valle, a Cuban-American citizen, has launched a petition campaign on the MoveOn platform to urge U.S. immigration authorities to allow the return of his wife, Heydi Sánchez Tejeda, who was recently deported to Cuba.

The case has attracted the attention of the media and the Cuban exile community because the woman was deported to the island despite being married to a U.S. citizen and being the mother of a one-year-old baby with a delicate health condition.

The petition by Carlos Yuniel Valle is addressed to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), aiming to obtain humanitarian permission for Heydi to return to the country and reunite with her family.

The baby of this couple was conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF), suffers from frequent seizures, and was separated from her mother while she was still breastfeeding.

Heydi's daughter is not just a baby; she is a long-awaited miracle. Separating her from her mother at such a critical stage has been devastating for her physical and emotional health,” the campaign's statement indicates.

Sudden deportation

Heydi was deported to Cuba in April, following a sudden decision by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which advanced her immigration check appointment without prior notice.

Her lawyer, Claudia Cañizares, explained in a recent interview that the young mother had an I-220B case. She has no criminal record, but she carried a final order of deportation since 2019, which was being attempted to be reopened unsuccessfully at the time of her detention.

"It took us by surprise, both the advance notice of the appointment and the way it was handled," lamented the lawyer, who also criticized ICE for deporting her as part of fulfilling internal quotas.

The case of Heydi has been particularly controversial due to its humanitarian implications. Unlike other cases where extensions have been granted, this time ICE acted with unusual speed, disregarding the delicate health condition of the child and the recent hiring of the defense legal team.

A long legal road for the Cuban mother to return to the U.S.

Despite the deportation, there is a possibility that Heydi will return to the United States, although the process will be complex. The lawyer explained that it will be necessary to request several immigration waivers and present solid evidence justifying her absence in a previous hearing.

“First, we need your migration record; then we will submit the corresponding pardon requests and request an interview at the embassy,” Cañizares detailed.

The duration of the process could extend for years, depending on the analysis conducted by the immigration authorities and the social support the case receives.

A cause that challenges the system

The campaign led by Carlos Yuniel Valle seeks more than just simple family reunification. According to him, it is a call for the humanization of the U.S. immigration system.

"Supporting Heydi's return is supporting family unity, especially in cases involving vulnerable children. Mothers who are breastfeeding cannot be separated from their children without causing irreparable harm," argues the text of the petition.

The Cuban community in the United States has expressed its indignation on social media, denouncing the lack of sensitivity shown by immigration authorities. The case has been labeled as a symbol of the structural failures in the deportation system.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Deportation of Heydi Sánchez Tejeda