Yudisleidy Rodríguez, a Cuban with I-220A residing in Miami, has requested help to face one of the most challenging situations a migrant mother can encounter.
Her five-year-old daughter, Sara, underwent surgery for a brain tumor, has autism with attention deficit and hyperactivity, and after losing their home, both spent nearly seven weeks sleeping in a car before being taken in by a shelter for homeless individuals.
Single mother without family support in the U.S., the woman is seeking a flexible job that allows her to attend her daughter's frequent medical appointments, as well as immediate assistance to pay rent and cover her daughter's medical expenses.
The story was shared by the journalist from Univision, Javier Díaz.
Yudisleidy's difficult situation began to worsen in November 2025, when Sara was diagnosed with a brain tumor and had to undergo surgery.
The girl had already been diagnosed with autism three years earlier and requires constant medical attention.
“There isn't a steady job that can accommodate all the medical appointments the girl has,” she explained.
The consultations, therapies, and the medical follow-up that the girl requires have made it impossible for the mother to maintain stable employment.
Without income, the woman also lost her home.
As she has no family in the United States to help her, Yudisleidy ended up living with her daughter in a car before seeking assistance at a homeless shelter in Miami.
Sara's father lives in Miami, but Yudisleidy was clear in describing his role: "Do you remember the girl? Occasionally."
The mother of Yudisleidy is asking from Cuba for her to return to the island with the girl. However, the woman dismisses that possibility because she does not want to interrupt the specialized medical care her daughter is receiving in the United States.
Refuge, but with limits
Although she is grateful to have a roof over her head now, Yudisleidy recognizes that the conditions of the shelter are challenging for a child with Sara's needs.
"Grateful to have a bed to sleep in, but with so many people in a shelter with the conditions she has, it's difficult for me," she stated.
"The little job they let me know about occasionally, I will do it,” the woman stated, who believes that so far, she has done everything she can for her daughter.
How to help?
On July 13th, Yudisleidy launched a campaign on GoFundMe with a goal of 15,000 dollars to secure housing and cover Sara's medical treatments.
As of the closing of this report, it had raised 3,898 dollars, contributed by 84 donors, less than a quarter of the goal.
“I don’t sleep, I went to see the psychiatrist”, Yudisleidy summarized as she described the emotional toll of caring for her daughter while trying to rebuild her life in the United States.
Yudisleidy's situation is further complicated by her immigration status.
Both she and Sara have an I-220A, a Supervision Order issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which allows them to remain free while their cases progress through the courts, but does not grant them legal immigration status or automatic access to a work permit or most public benefits.
That condition excludes them from federal and state assistance such as Medicaid, housing assistance programs, or cash subsidies.
Hundreds of thousands of Cubans in the United States are facing this same immigration limbo, and during 2025 and 2026, several holders of the I-220A were detained during routine appointments with ICE or received deportation orders.
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