A Cuban family has been tragically separated following the deportation of Alían Méndez Aguilar, a young father of 28 who had been residing in North Miami before being sent back to Cuba on April 24. This distressing case, highlighted by journalist Javier Díaz, has sparked widespread sympathy and concern due to its human impact. Méndez, married to a Cuban-American woman, is the father of a three-year-old daughter and played a vital role in caring for his wife's older son, who suffers from a severe physical and mental disability.
According to his wife, Liyian Páez, the deportation has devastated their family and deeply traumatized their little girl. "When she sees a father picking up a child, she starts crying and asking where her dad is," Páez shared tearfully.
Páez, who had supported Donald Trump in the elections, now feels betrayed by the current White House immigration policies, fearing she won't be able to manage raising her children alone. "I believed they would only deport criminals," she told Univision. She emphasized that her husband has no criminal record and was taken into custody during a routine interview related to their immigration process. "We are good people," she stated to Javier Díaz.
The family briefly reunited in Cuba, where Liyian and her daughter visited Méndez. The visit brought joy to their daughter, who couldn't comprehend the situation. "She would say 'daddy, daddy' and hug him, kiss him, as if she didn't understand why she wasn't seeing her dad," Liyian recounted.
Méndez, who entered the United States in 2019, was deported despite his ongoing family claim process. In 2020, he received a deportation order that wasn't executed because the Cuban government refused to accept him. After exceeding the 90-day period without repatriation, he was released under supervision and lived in the country, forming a family and contributing to society without any legal issues.
Trump's Controversial Immigration Proposal
This week, former President Donald Trump announced an initiative to offer $1,000 to each undocumented immigrant willing to voluntarily return to their country of origin. Described as "historic" by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the proposal provides a financial incentive for those registering and completing their departure via the government app CBP Home.
Trump explained that if individuals choosing self-deportation are deemed "good," his administration would work to "create a path for their return," but emphasized the necessity of adhering to the specified timeline. "We will arrange a beautiful flight back to where they came from. They have a time period," he stated. "If we think they are good, the kind of people we want in our country, they will come back. We will offer them a slightly easier route."
He also warned of consequences for those not opting for this voluntary exit: they "will be removed from our country" without the chance to return and will face stricter measures. The government claims this approach offers a "dignified exit" for those living in the country without legal authorization, allowing them time to settle their affairs, say goodbyes, and avoid ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detention.
Furthermore, self-deportation via CBP Home can help preserve the "option to reenter the United States legally in the future." This new measure comes after the first 100 days of Trump's second term, during which the administration has ramped up its immigration crackdown. According to ICE data, over 65,000 undocumented immigrants have been deported, with 75% having criminal records, including sexual offenses and homicides.
Cuban Immigration Challenges and Solutions
What led to Alían Méndez Aguilar's deportation?
Méndez Aguilar was deported despite having no criminal record, as part of a routine immigration process. The Cuban government had initially refused his repatriation, but the deportation was executed later.
How has the deportation affected Méndez's family?
The deportation has left the family devastated, with their three-year-old daughter traumatized and struggling to understand why her father is absent. The family faces emotional and practical challenges in his absence.
What is Trump's new immigration initiative?
Trump's initiative offers $1,000 to undocumented immigrants who voluntarily return to their home countries, allowing them a chance to re-enter the U.S. legally in the future if deemed favorable.