Yordenis Ugás, the renowned Cuban boxer, took to his official account on X (formerly Twitter) to express his dismay over the recent deportation of Heydi Sánchez Tejeda, a Cuban mother sent back to the island by U.S. immigration authorities. This action left her infant daughter and the child's American father behind in the United States. "What happened to the deported Cuban mother, leaving behind a small child who even seems to have some condition, is truly heartbreaking. It was always said that criminals and offenders would be pursued, not hardworking and decent individuals," Ugás lamented in his post.
"I hope Cubans condemn this, so such incidents in exile don't continue. This is why, despite everyone knowing my stance, I never campaigned for any politician in this country. I prefer to remain an activist for the freedom of our homeland, for the liberty of all our political prisoners," the boxer added.
A Case Stirring Outrage Among Cuban Exiles
The saga of Heydi Sánchez Tejeda has sparked widespread outrage among the Cuban exile community and immigration rights advocates. Sánchez was taken into custody in Tampa on April 22 during a routine immigration appointment with ICE. Notably, she had no criminal record and was in the process of legalizing her status through her U.S. citizen husband.
Despite being involved in legal proceedings and having a young daughter reliant on breastfeeding, she was detained and subsequently deported to Cuba last Thursday on a flight carrying 82 migrants from the U.S. to Havana. Her husband voiced his distress and openly questioned the actions of U.S. immigration officials. Presently, their baby remains in the U.S. under her father's care, while Heydi is back in Cuba with no clear timeline for family reunification.
The incident has set off alarms within the immigrant community, highlighting the urgent need for immigration reform to safeguard families in precarious situations and bringing current ICE practices into question.
Impact of Heydi Sánchez Tejeda's Deportation
What were the circumstances of Heydi Sánchez Tejeda's detention?
Heydi Sánchez Tejeda was detained during a routine immigration appointment with ICE in Tampa on April 22. Although she had no criminal record and was in the process of legalizing her status through her U.S. citizen husband, she was ultimately deported.
How has the community reacted to this deportation?
The deportation of Heydi Sánchez Tejeda has ignited a firestorm of indignation among the Cuban exile community and immigration rights advocates, leading to calls for reform in the immigration system to prevent such cases in the future.