Mother's Deportation from U.S. to Cuba Sparks Outrage: Husband Speaks Out

Carlos Yuniel Valle, husband of Heydi Sánchez Tejeda, who was deported to Cuba on Thursday despite being the mother of a one-year-old daughter, expressed his gratitude for the support he has received and vowed to continue fighting to reunite his family. “I'm making this video without any energy, without motivation, and without hope,” Valle stated at the beginning of a video where he described the uncertainty surrounding his wife's case until the very last moment, eventually learning from a friend that she had already been deported.

"Everything we did was in vain. In the end, ICE and Trump got what they wanted," he lamented. "They separated a child from her mother. They killed a mother, a father, and the future of a little girl," Valle added, visibly distressed. He took the opportunity to thank journalists and media outlets who showed interest in the case and tried to help.

"I'm also making this video primarily to thank Mario Pentón, CiberCuba, Telemundo, Univision, the congresswoman from Tampa, and everyone who truly went above and beyond to fight for me, and many people tried to help," Valle affirmed, though he regretted that "it couldn't be helped" because "they were stronger."

Carlos Yuniel Valle explained that his wife's attorney informed him that ICE had supposedly signed a "Stop" order—which could have halted the deportation—and even stamped it. Yet, Heydi was still placed on the plane. Valle expressed frustration over the uncertainty they faced: "Even at 12:30 in the afternoon, when she had already been in Havana for over an hour, we knew nothing. The computer showed she was detained at CBP, which was not true. The congresswoman called CBP, and they said they had nothing to do with it, that they only handle people coming in, not going out."

Finally, he reiterated his gratitude to all who have supported him: "Thank you to everyone who has helped and continues to help me, I will not give up. I will keep fighting. She has a process in motion, and we'll see what we can do."

The Background of Heydi Sánchez Tejeda's Case

Heydi Sánchez Tejeda was detained on April 22 at the immigration agency in Tampa, Hillsborough County, when she showed up for her annual appointment as part of a long-awaited immigration regularization process. Carlos Yuniel Valle, her husband and a U.S. citizen, shared a heartbreaking video on social media, visibly affected, urgently requesting help.

In the video, Valle appeared in tears, holding their young daughter. In a desperate plea, he recounted how, following the separation, the child was left utterly distraught, her cries echoing from outside the immigration office. Heydi, who arrived in the United States five years ago and was under a supervision and deportation order (I-220B), had been waiting for a response to her claim process, filed over two years ago.

Heydi had no criminal record and had complied with all legal requirements: she worked, paid taxes, and adhered to the law. In subsequent statements to CiberCuba, Carlos Yuniel Valle clarified that the appointment was initially set for April 30 but was unexpectedly moved forward to Tuesday, the 22nd. Both attended with their daughter and an attorney, unaware of the traumatic experience that awaited them.

Moments after arriving, Valle received a distressing call from his wife: “She told me, crying, to come in to pick up the child because she had to stay.” Visibly shaken, Carlos Yuniel recounted how agents handed over the little girl, who was screaming and crying. He wasn't even allowed to say goodbye to his wife. Heydi's last interview with ICE was six months prior.

It's worth noting that Heydi spent nine months in detention following her arrival in the country. During her time in detention, she developed kidney problems and had to sign a deportation letter. Her husband recounted that her health was so critical that she even considered returning to Cuba, although she was not deported at that time.

The couple is legally married, and after several attempts, they succeeded in having their daughter through in vitro fertilization. The child was born prematurely and still relies on breastfeeding, which has now been abruptly taken away.

An Injustice That Defies Logic

The detention and deportation of Heydi Sánchez Tejeda have sparked a wave of outrage, particularly because she had no criminal record, complied with all laws, worked, and paid taxes. Carlos Yuniel Valle, devastated by the ordeal, has repeatedly denounced what he sees as a grave injustice. "She has never even received a ticket in this country. She worked, paid taxes, and did everything legally. It's an injustice what they are doing to her," he reiterated on several occasions.

Sánchez was repatriated on a flight that returned 82 Cuban migrants from the United States to Havana on Thursday morning. According to Cuba's Ministry of the Interior, this operation brought the total number of deported Cubans in 2025 to 450, carried out through 15 return flights from various countries.

This is not an isolated case. In recent weeks, several Cubans have been detained under similar circumstances. Such is the case of Víctor Manuel Izquierdo Peralta, a 21-year-old also arrested in Tampa during a migration appointment, despite processing his legal residency through marriage to a U.S. citizen. ICE informed him he must await the case resolution from Cuba, despite not violating any of the imposed conditions.