Heydi Sánchez Tejeda, a Cuban mother recently deported back to the island, has shared a heartfelt video highlighting the severe anguish she feels from being separated from her young daughter. "I am Heydi Sánchez Tejeda, and many of you may already know me as the woman deported to Cuba this past Thursday," she began, expressing gratitude for the support she's received while tearfully sharing her ordeal.
Heydi's daughter, who represents her greatest motivation for living, was conceived through in vitro fertilization after 28 long years of unsuccessful fertility treatments. "I could never get pregnant. My daughter is my life, my everything," she revealed, conveying the deep despair of being apart from her child. "They're killing me slowly, every night I sleep without her, every moment I see the milk I can't give her wasted from my chest," she lamented.
In her emotional message, Heydi mentioned that sometimes she's able to speak with her daughter, who asks for her "teti" and calls for her presence, a heart-wrenching request Heydi is unable to fulfill. She urgently appealed for solidarity from anyone who can assist in reuniting her family. "I ask you, please, once again to help us, to continue doing everything within your power," she pleaded. "I miss my life, my everything. Please, have compassion and help us."
She expressed appreciation to everyone sharing her story and showing concern, especially those who, as mothers, can comprehend the void and distress of being separated from her daughter, who used to sleep in her arms each night. Heydi Sánchez Tejeda's case has sparked widespread support on social media and among the Cuban community abroad amid ongoing deportation and family separation crises causing profound emotional and humanitarian turmoil.
On April 22, Heydi attended a routine appointment with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Tampa, Florida, as part of her immigration regularization process. Despite holding the I-220B form, which allowed her temporary stay in the U.S. while her deportation was being processed, she was unexpectedly detained and taken to the ICE Detention Center in Miami. The next day, she was deported to Cuba on a flight carrying 82 Cuban migrants.
Heydi's deportation left her one-year-old daughter behind in the U.S. under the care of her father, Carlos Yuniel Valle. The sudden separation severed the critical mother-daughter bond, particularly distressing as the child is still being breastfed. Carlos voiced his despair and agony on social media, labeling the situation as an "injustice" and declaring they "killed a mother alive."
The Cuban community in the United States responded with outrage to Heydi's deportation. Many voiced their shock and disapproval on social media, questioning the current immigration policies and the lack of empathy in enforcing the laws.
Understanding the Impact of Deportation on Families
What challenges do deported parents face when separated from their children?
Deported parents often face emotional distress, anxiety, and depression due to separation from their children. They struggle with the inability to provide care and comfort, which can lead to significant psychological and emotional challenges.
How can the community support families affected by deportation?
Communities can support affected families by advocating for policy changes, providing legal assistance, and offering emotional and financial support to help reunite families and ease the burdens of those left behind.