The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported Heydi Sánchez Tejeda on Thursday. She was detained the day before during a routine appointment at the immigration offices in Tampa, Florida. The woman, a breastfeeding mother, was sent back to Cuba on a flight carrying 82 migrants that landed in Havana on Thursday, leaving her one-year-old daughter behind in the U.S. under the care of her husband, Carlos Yuniel Valle, who confirmed the situation to CiberCuba.
Valle, a U.S. citizen, expressed his distress in a brief message to our editorial team: "They deported her, my brother," he stated. The incident has sparked outrage among the immigrant community, as the sudden deportation disrupted the crucial bond between mother and child, who is still being breastfed.
Sánchez Tejeda attended her immigration meeting with the I-220B form, a document allowing migrants to stay temporarily in the U.S. while their deportation process is underway. However, under the more stringent policies implemented by ICE during Donald Trump’s administration, holders of this document have become frequent targets for detention, even if their legal processes are ongoing.
The Cuban woman had applied for legal status more than two years ago through a family petition but had yet to receive a definitive response from authorities. Nevertheless, she diligently complied with ICE's conditions, including attending all immigration appointments punctually.
Heydi Sánchez was sent back to Cuba on a flight carrying 82 Cuban migrants from the United States to Havana this morning. According to Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior, this operation brings the total number of Cubans deported in 2025 to 450, through 15 return flights from various countries.
This is not an isolated case. Recently, several Cubans have been detained under similar circumstances. For instance, Víctor Manuel Izquierdo Peralta, a 21-year-old also arrested in Tampa during an immigration appointment, despite processing his legal residency through marriage to a U.S. citizen. ICE informed him he must await the case's resolution from Cuba, even though he did not violate any imposed conditions.
Deportation flights between the United States and Cuba resumed in April 2023 under Joe Biden's administration. Although their frequency has been relatively low, with about one flight per month, each carries more than 50 people. Cuban authorities review the records before authorizing each repatriate's entry, which limits the total number of effective deportations.
Key Questions on U.S. Deportation of Cuban Migrants
What document did Heydi Sánchez Tejeda present at her immigration appointment?
Heydi Sánchez Tejeda presented the I-220B form, which allows migrants to stay temporarily in the U.S. while their deportation process is ongoing.
Why has the community reacted with outrage to Sánchez Tejeda's deportation?
The community has reacted with outrage because the deportation interrupted the breastfeeding relationship between Sánchez Tejeda and her daughter, causing emotional distress and separation.
How has the policy on deportation changed under recent administrations?
Under the Trump administration, policies became more restrictive, making holders of certain immigration documents, like the I-220B, frequent targets for detention despite ongoing legal processes.