Heydi Sánchez Tejeda, the Cuban mother who was deported despite being married to a naturalized U.S. citizen and having an 18-month-old daughter, spoke from the island about the authorities' acceptance of family reunification, a piece of news that, while it does not resolve her situation immediately, restores her hope.
“At last, after a long wait, they accepted the family reunification”, he stated in comments to the network Univision, although he clarified that this does not mean an immediate resolution of his case.
“I want to tell you that I still do not have a visa. I still have nothing... My husband only went to an immigration appointment,” she added.
“I thank all those who have supported us in one way or another, who have offered their hand. Those who have raised their voices for us, for all the kind comments,” concluded Heydi, visibly emotional.
Case Background
She was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on April 24, after attending a immigration appointment.
Shortly after, she was deported to Cuba, leaving behind her young daughter - whom she was still nursing - and her husband, who resided in the United States.
Seven weeks later, the family has received a positive update regarding their case: their family reunification request has been approved.
The immigration attorney Claudia Cañizares states that “this is definitely good news now that Heydi has her family petition approved," although she agrees that "this does not mean she will be able to enter the United States immediately.”
The path to reunification is still long and filled with obstacles.
Cañizares explained that Heydi will need to undergo a consular process that includes the submission of documents, such as the affidavit of support, and will subsequently be called for an interview at the United States embassy in Havana.
It will also be necessary for them to approve a migration pardon, given that he/she crossed the border illegally in 2019.
This pardon can take years if not processed through an expedited route, which is why the family continues to seek the assistance of U.S. congress members to speed up the process.
After his forced departure from the country, Carlos Yuniel Valle was left alone in charge of his one-year-old daughter, hoping for a solution to reunite the family.
The progress in the case was made possible, in part, thanks to the efforts made by Congresswoman Kathy Castor, as the couple publicly expressed their gratitude.
Despite the approval, there are still important steps ahead. The case now moves to the National Visa Center (NVC), from where Heydi will be scheduled for an interview at the U.S. consulate in Havana.
Before returning, he will need to process two immigration waivers, a process that can take years, although his lawyer will try to have the case considered for expedited processing.
The family also faces uncertainty due to a recent measure by the United States government that restricts the issuance of visas to Cuban citizens.
Although this regulation primarily affects tourist and student visas (such as B-1/B-2, J, M, and F), it is still unclear whether it will also impact immigrant visas like the IR-1.
Our little girl is going through the toughest time, Carlos lamented in recent statements to Telemundo 51, and added that Heydi is in Cuba suffering from being separated from her daughter.
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