Zunami Pérez, the wife of young Cuban Víctor Manuel Izquierdo Peralta, who was sent back to the island on April 24 along with 82 other deportees, is pleading for leniency so her husband can return to the United States. She wishes for him to be able to wait in the U.S. while their marriage process is pending, as she is an American citizen. "We are suffering. My son deserves to grow up with both of his parents," she expressed in a video message shared with CiberCuba. "No one should endure such immense pain. I only ask that he be allowed to come back to raise his child," she added, clearly heartbroken. The couple shares a child aged one year and nine months.
At 21, Víctor Manuel Izquierdo entered the U.S. through the Mexican border in 2019 as a minor and was issued an I-220B document. He consistently attended his annual ICE appointments, accompanied by his mother. However, after turning 21 in August 2024, he was detained during his March 28, 2025 appointment in Tampa. He was taken to the Krome Detention Center and later to Broward Detention Center, before being deported to Cuba, where he has neither a home nor family.
A Struggle for Legal Return
Aside from their marriage petition, Víctor had a job, no legal issues, and no criminal record. "He is very upstanding. He entered the country as a minor. We had high hopes they would consider all these factors to allow him to stay here while his marriage petition was processed, reporting regularly and doing everything right," his wife explained in a voice message sent during the deportation week.
Legally, Víctor Manuel Izquierdo can only return to the U.S. if he obtains a pardon, a process that takes three to five years. Alternatively, a humanitarian visa could be requested, which is extremely difficult to obtain but not impossible, according to immigration lawyer Willy Allen.
The Political Context
Republican Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar has also spoken out regarding the case of a mother with an I-220B who was deported to Cuba, separated from her nursing baby. The case of Heidy Sánchez Tejeda, which has deeply affected the Cuban community in Florida, mirrors Víctor Manuel Izquierdo's situation. Both are parents, resided in Tampa, have been separated from their children, and held I-220B status. According to the congresswoman, both could have been ‘saved’ if the Dignity Law she aims to promote in Congress had been passed.
The I-220B immigration status makes legalizing one's stay in the U.S. nearly impossible. In fact, lawyer Willy Allen explained to CiberCuba that, in his view, "Cubans with the greatest concern should be those with I-220B status." He further noted, "For me, the Cubans who should be most worried are the I-220Bs. The path for a 220B to legalize in the United States is almost impossible because once you have a 220B, you lost asylum and were deported, you lost credible fear and were deported, or you failed to attend a court hearing and were deported."
Understanding the I-220B Status and Its Challenges
What is an I-220B immigration status?
An I-220B document is issued to individuals who enter the United States under specific conditions, often as minors, and it complicates their ability to legalize their status.
How can someone with an I-220B return to the U.S.?
Returning to the U.S. with an I-220B status requires obtaining a pardon, which can take several years, or applying for a humanitarian visa, which is challenging to secure.
What was the impact of Víctor's deportation on his family?
Víctor's deportation has separated him from his wife and young child, causing significant emotional distress and challenging their family's stability.