Roxana Maldonado, a Cuban who has been in the United States for 21 years, shared a heartfelt video on social media about how her life has changed since her husband, Reinier Gutiérrez, was deported to Cuba. In a post shared on TikTok (@roxanamaldonado_), the young mother recounted the profound emotional impact and the daily challenges she faces to keep her family united, despite the distance, the precarious situation on the island, and the uncertainty of the future.
"Life after the deportation of a loved one, or in my case, my husband, is, my God, the most difficult, the most brutal, the most humiliating experience a human being can go through," she stated at the beginning of her harrowing testimony.
Her husband was deported in 2023 after spending months in a detention center in the United States. Roxana reported that, despite being a U.S. citizen, she was not given the opportunity to marry him or present humanitarian arguments. Their youngest child, only three months old at the time and a U.S. citizen, was facing health issues.
Two years later, the drama continues. What pains her the most has not been the material loss, but the difficulties in communicating with him. “My husband is from a rural area in Cuba... neither with that recharge nor with the data, can I write to him or talk to him whenever I want,” she lamented. Frequent power outages and poor connections prevent her from having stable conversations. “Every time I’m talking to my husband, I haven’t been able to complete a conversation.”
Roxana explained that her husband relies on an old power generator that he had sent to his family when he lived in the U.S., but it broke down and had to be repaired. With the little money he had left after his detention, he bought gasoline or oil to ensure they would have electricity when she and the children visit him soon in Cuba. "I'm going next week with the kids, to reset a bit, because this has been a process that has taken two years," she said.
From Cuba, he tries to stay strong. "My love, I can't go crazy because anyone who comes here with their mind already focused on the disorder won't end up alive," he told her, aware of the psychological impact of returning to an island with no resources or hopes. Roxana confessed that in moments of desperation, she has considered staying in Cuba with her children, but he himself asked her to travel to see the reality with her own eyes before making a decision.
"Cubans aren't lucky; we aren't lucky because we were born with a mess in our lives. We are not at peace, neither in Cuba nor here," he expressed. "Cuba has no borders, it has nothing; it is an abandoned country, a country that is truly living in limbo."
The testimony has generated a wave of empathy on social media. Many people shared similar experiences of family separation, uncertain migration processes, and daily anguish. Several mothers mentioned raising their children alone while their husbands are detained or have been deported. There were also those who offered words of encouragement, messages of faith, and practical suggestions for coping with blackouts or improving communication with Cuba. The overall sentiment was one of solidarity and understanding in the face of shared pain.
The story that Roxana tells today originates from May 2023, when her husband, Reinier Gutiérrez, was deported to Cuba during the Biden administration after several months in immigration custody. He had entered through the southern border in 2020 and was under an immediate deportation order (I-220A). At the time of his return, their youngest son was just three months old. From the island, Gutiérrez expressed his frustration over the lack of sensitivity in his case: “They showed no mercy, nothing for a child who is an American citizen, who has health issues. My grandfather, who is elderly and an American citizen, and all those people depend on me,” he said at the time.
Roxana, speaking from the United States, reported that authorities did not allow her to formalize her marriage once her partner was detained. “He always showed up, he never failed to comply, and during the time he was here, he never committed any crime or offense,” she explained at that time. “His son is here, his whole life is here. I don’t know whether to cry, to scream, or to be angry. I feel so powerless,” she added in tears.
Currently, separation continues to shape the daily life of this family. Roxana faces the upbringing of her children alone, dealing with technological obstacles and the emotional burden of maintaining a fragmented home. Her testimony confirms that deportation doesn’t end with a return flight; the consequences extend, silent and persistent, to those left waiting.
Roxana's testimony, shared on social media in recent days, comes at a time of uncertainty among immigrants in the United States, facing the deportation of other Cubans or fearing being sent back to their countries. This is the case for the family of Cuban Ariel Cruz Penton, who has raised his voice against his possible deportation after seven years in the United States without any criminal record. Cruz was detained by ICE in Colorado while working, and since then, he has faced a process filled with irregularities, as reported by his wife, Alexandria Dowell. "This is his home. It’s not Cuba, it’s here, with us," said the woman, who has initiated a legal battle to prevent his forced return to the island. Their story, like Roxana's, gives a face to the silent pain of many Cuban families separated by relentless immigration decisions.
This chain of stories marked by separation and uncertainty includes the case of Heydi Sánchez, a Cuban mother deported last April and separated from her husband and daughter in the United States. Although her family reunification request has been approved, she still does not have a visa or has initiated the consular process. "Every day that passes we say: one day less, we have one more day gone," she said from Cuba, where she hopes to be reunited with her family.
Frequently Asked Questions about Deportation and Its Impact on Cuban Families in the U.S.
What is the emotional impact of deportation on Cuban families in the U.S.?
Deportation has a devastating emotional impact on Cuban families in the U.S., causing family separation, uncertainty, and difficulties in maintaining family unity. The testimony of Roxana Maldonado, who lives in the United States while her husband was deported to Cuba, reveals the pain and daily challenges of raising her children alone and keeping in touch with her partner from afar. This situation is further complicated by communication issues due to poor connectivity and power outages in Cuba.
What challenges do deported Cubans face upon returning to Cuba?
The Cuban deportees face serious problems upon returning to Cuba, such as a lack of resources and hope, in addition to a challenging economic environment. Reinier Gutiérrez, husband of Roxana, emphasizes the psychological impact of returning to an island without opportunities, where communication with his family in the U.S. is limited due to technological and economic conditions.
How does deportation affect the children of Cuban families in the U.S.?
Deportation deeply affects the children of Cuban families in the U.S., leaving them without a parental figure and facing health and emotional issues. In the case of Roxana Maldonado's family, her youngest son, a U.S. citizen, had health problems when his father was deported, which adds an emotional and logistical burden for the mother who must handle the situation alone.
What measures can be taken to improve the situation of families affected by deportation?
To improve the situation of families affected by deportation, it is crucial to facilitate communication with their loved ones in Cuba and provide emotional and legal support. Furthermore, it is essential that U.S. immigration policies take humanitarian and family cases into account, allowing for quicker and less traumatic processes for family reunification.
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