A Cuban residing in the United States shared on social media the migratory reality of her family, where under one roof live two children with completely different legal statuses: a daughter who emigrated from Cuba and a son born in U.S. territory. However, the message ended up sparking an unexpected controversy.
Content creator Evelyn Vlogs Cuba posted a video on Facebook in which she explained that, while her youngest son was born in the United States and is a U.S. citizen by birth, she, her husband, and her eldest daughter are still waiting for a solution to their immigration situation.
"I am Cuban living in the United States, and in my own home, I have to deal with two completely different nationalities under the same roof," she expressed.
The mother remembered that her eldest daughter arrived with her from Cuba, “sharing the fear and uncertainty of a journey,” while the youngest was born on American soil.
She also explained that both she and her husband are in an unresolved immigration process.
"We continue to battle, fighting every day and hoping for a decision that could change our lives," he stated.
The post, identified with the hashtag #I220A, refers to the supervised release order under which thousands of Cubans remain in the United States while their immigration cases are still pending.
The controversy arose from a phrase
The video, which surpassed 14,600 views, did not spark the debate that Evelyn was hoping for. Instead, several users questioned her referring to her son as "American citizen."
In light of the reactions, he decided to publish a second video to clarify his words.
"My son was born in the United States, which means he is an American citizen. It's a fact, not an opinion," he replied.
The creator insisted that recognizing her son's citizenship does not mean renouncing his family roots.
"Does that mean he stops being the son of Cubans? Of course not. His dad and I are Cuban, and we are deeply proud of our roots. In our home, we teach him our culture, our customs, and where we came from. One thing does not negate the other," he explained.
Evelyn lamented that the discussion ended up focusing on her son's nationality rather than on the situation faced by thousands of migrant families.
“The real issue is the reality that thousands of immigrant families experience in this country. There are households where, under one roof, people with different immigration statuses live together. A child who is a citizen, parents with different status, siblings in various situations. This is the reality for many families in the United States,” he stated.
The comments reflected divided opinions. While some users insisted that both children are Cuban due to their family roots, others supported the creator's point and reminded that citizenship is a legal status independent of the parents' origin.
A reality shared by thousands of Cubans
The case presented by Evelyn reflects the situation of hundreds of thousands of Cuban families in the United States.
Various estimates place the number of Cubans remaining under form I-220A between 400,000 and 500,000, a migratory status that does not automatically grant access to permanent residency or the benefits of the Cuban Adjustment Act.
In recent weeks, this group's uncertainty has increased following several immigration operations. One of the most notable cases was that of Tania Romero Naranjo, a 24-year-old Cuban with I-220A who was detained by ICE in Texas despite being the mother of a three-year-old U.S. citizen.
Immigration specialists remind us that having a child with U.S. citizenship does not automatically protect parents from potential deportation. In fact, a citizen can only petition for residency for their parents when they turn 21.
In closing her message, Evelyn expressed regret that the goal of her post was overshadowed by the controversy.
"If after seeing all of that, the only thing someone understood was to discuss the nationality of a child, I believe the main point has been completely missed. My intention was never to create division, but simply to show a reality that many families live every day and that few people are aware of," he concluded.
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