A Cuban resident in the United States shared on TikTok the emotional experience of visiting her sister, detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), after three months of not being able to hug her.
In the video, posted by the user @mamasinlimites1, the woman tearfully shares that although she had been able to see her on other occasions, it had always been "behind glass," without being able to touch her.
"I couldn't give her that hug that we both needed," she recounted, visibly affected.
The Cuban explained that her sister has been moved three times to different detention centers, which has been an emotional rollercoaster for the whole family.
"Every change is exhausting, especially knowing that one doesn't have control over it," she expressed.
Despite the fact that the center where her sister is located is almost three hours away from her home, the woman stated that she didn’t mind driving that distance just to be able to see her. However, upon arrival, she encountered an unexpected obstacle:
"I didn't take the rules from the center before going and was surprised to find out that sandals are not allowed. I had to change in the car," she explained.
What impacted her the most, she confessed, was seeing that it was a family center where there were many children.
"It's very sad to see everything that's happening," she lamented.
Despite the sadness, the Cuban woman assured that the day had a "gift": she was able to hug and touch her sister after such a long time apart.
"That hug recharged our souls. I just want to send strength and a hug to everyone going through the same thing. This too shall pass," he concluded.
The testimony has moved hundreds of users on social media, who expressed their solidarity and called for empathy towards families facing the harsh reality of immigration detention in the United States.
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