A Cuban family residing in the United States is simultaneously facing the father's detention by immigration authorities and a preliminary diagnosis of childhood cancer in their baby, according to the activist and journalist from Avila, Guillermo Rodríguez Sánchez via his Facebook profile.
Rodríguez Sánchez described the situation as a reality that "has collapsed in just a few days" and made his account visibility available to spread the solidarity campaign for the family, made up of Yunior, his wife Anaily, and their little daughter Ainhoa.
Approximately two months ago, Yunior was arrested by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), leaving Anaily without financial support at a time when she was fully devoted to taking care of the baby.
La detención de Yunior por ICE es parte de una realidad que afecta a miles de familias cubanas en Estados Unidos. Sigue toda la información sobre casos, leyes y recursos en nuestra sección de
Without any income, Anaily was unable to maintain her household or cover the payments on the family vehicle, and she was forced to move to "an extremely small space where barely she and her baby can fit."
The crisis escalated dramatically a few days ago when Ainhoa presented with a fever. When visiting the pediatrician, the doctor detected a palpable mass between the girl's liver and stomach and referred her urgently to Nicklaus Children's Hospital, one of the most specialized pediatric oncology centers in Florida.
After the initial evaluations, the doctors issued a preliminary diagnosis of neuroblastoma, defined in the campaign as "a rare type of childhood cancer that originates in the immature nerve cells of the body" and primarily affects infants and young children.
Anaily remains in the hospital 24 hours a day with her daughter, unable to work or generate any income, and without a suitable place to return to when the baby is discharged.
In addition to the medical crisis, there is a pressing immigration urgency: Anaily holds an I-220A status —a supervised release order from ICE that does not equate to permanent residency— and has a court hearing scheduled for this September, so she requires immediate legal representation. Yunior, on the other hand, needs specialized advice while in ICE custody to explore his release or a pathway to regularization.
The case is part of a wave of arrests that has particularly affected Cubans with I-220A status, who have been detained even during routine supervision appointments. According to reports, the arrests of Cubans by ICE increased by 463% between October 2024 and April 2026.
Other similar cases have been documented recently: a Cuban mother with an I-220A and her three-year-old son was detained by ICE in July, and a lawyer explained the implications of these detentions for families with minors.
The funds raised through the GoFundMe campaign will be allocated to immigration legal fees for both, dignified housing to ensure the child's recovery, basic needs such as food and diapers, and additional medical expenses not covered by insurance.
"We sincerely thank each donation, message of encouragement, and prayer for the swift recovery of little Ainhoa, the release of Yunior, and the strength of Anaily," concludes the statement shared by Rodríguez Sánchez.
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