Sandy Love spent nine years without documents in Canada and faced a deportation process. An unexpected turn in the dealings with Cuba gave him hope before finally securing residency.
Sandy shared her story in a Facebook reel, becoming a viral testimony among the Latin community in Canada and the United States.
"My lawyer told me, 'They are going to deport you,'" he recounts at the beginning of the video. "My life changed in an instant," he narrates at the start of the video.
Three months after applying for a new immigration status, she received a letter that, as she recounts, made her fear for her stay in Canada. "When I received it, I broke down and cried a lot, but I had a lot of faith," she remembers.
On the day of her appointment with the immigration authorities, Sandy left her daughters at school for fear they would be detained along with her. She shared that her partner refused to accompany her, her family members were unable to do so, and only one friend offered to go with her.
During the meeting, the officer asked her what would happen if she were sent back to Cuba. Her response was a single word: "Nothing." She herself acknowledges that it might not have been the most strategic answer, but admits she was "so mentally exhausted that I didn’t care if they took me."
The official explained to her that she needed a Cuban passport to proceed with the deportation. Sandy replied that she barely had enough money to eat and pay for rent, and that she could not afford the approximately 300 dollars that, according to her, the document cost. The officer assured her that he would handle it.
In the second meeting, the officer stated, "We have tried to contact Cuba, but they never answered." Sandy described that moment with relief and humor: "Oh my God, for the first time Cuba is doing something good for me."
Finally, Sandy obtained residency in Canada. "I tried to do everything the right way, I kept fighting, and they finally approved my residency," she says.
Sandy concluded her account with a message directed at those going through similar situations: "Don't lose hope in obtaining your documents, but also don't forget about your life and your dreams, which are much bigger than just one country. You also deserve to live in peace."
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