Jessica Suárez, a Cuban who crossed the border into the United States in 2021, announced in a video posted on Facebook her imminent permanent return to Cuba with her husband and three daughters.
Suárez explained that after five years trapped in a migratory limbo, they have decided to leave because her husband's final hearing in immigration court is about to take place, and they fear he will be given a deportation order.
An odyssey without a residence
Upon entering U.S. territory in 2021, the family came under the supervision of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency through the I-220A form, a document that does not equate to parole or formal admission and does not guarantee protection against deportation.
Since 2022, they have tried to regularize their situation without success.
“The journey to obtain the documents for us has literally been a nightmare. From encountering people who have messed up all our paperwork to others who didn’t do any paperwork and simply stole our money,” Jessica recounted in a video that has gone viral.
Four years later, the family still does not have residency.
“We applied for it in 2022 and here we are in 2026, and still no sign of the blessed residency,” she admitted.
The fear of the final court
The trigger was the impending final hearing of the husband, scheduled for August.
"The final hearing for my husband is approaching, and we are scared to death," she confessed.
Jessica described the climate surrounding current migration processes: “For my family, this has been a tremendous psychological torture. There are people who haven’t even been allowed to speak in court, meaning we literally don’t even have the right to defend ourselves.”
This scenario is not isolated: immigration courts have advanced hearings for Cubans with I-220A that were scheduled for 2028 or 2029 to June-September 2026, increasing the pressure on thousands of families.
Leave before they deport you
In light of that situation, the family made the decision to leave voluntarily.
"I honestly don't want us to be expelled from this country and lose the chance to return forever. So I prefer to leave myself, my daughters, along with my husband of our own accord," she admitted.
"I am not going to leave him alone at the time when he needs us the most," she added, clarifying that she does not want the family to be separated.
His youngest daughter, born in U.S. territory, is an American citizen. "I feel so sorry for my daughters, especially for the littlest one who was born here, but at least she will always have the possibility of returning," he pointed out.
Jessica also responded to her surroundings: "Most of our friends say it's crazy and that we're getting desperate, but of course, it's easy for them to say because they all have their papers sorted out already."
And he summarized five years of frustration in one sentence: “This country definitely did not open its doors to us.”
Despite returning to the island, Jessica does not lose hope.
"I think that soon Cuba will improve again because Trump will help us out. I really haven't lost hope that it will happen," concluded Jessica Suárez, who specified that she plans to resume content creation from the island.
What the community says
The video accumulated over 357,000 views and more than 1,060 comments, with a predominant sentiment of empathy. Many supported the logic of leaving before a forced deportation: "I would leave voluntarily. If you're deported, you might never be able to return. The most important thing is to keep the family together."
Others warned about the harsh conditions on the island: "I understand your decision, but be prepared because the situation in Cuba is very difficult, especially due to power outages and shortages." Some suggested alternative destinations such as Mexico, Brazil, or Uruguay.
There were also voices of legal caution. Immigration attorney Willy Allen had already warned that Cubans with I-220A who are not detained should not accept voluntary departure, as it can trigger re-entry bans of three to ten years and undermine pending asylum applications.
The case is not the first of its kind. Another Cuban with I-220A announced his voluntary return to Cuba on July 27, a few days earlier. By May-June of this year, the total number of Cubans repatriated to the island from the U.S. exceeded 612.
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