A Cuban woman has taken to social media to share an extraordinary tale that resembles a movie plot: she was deported from the United States, only to receive approval for permanent residency almost simultaneously. "I was deported and rewarded at the same time," she exclaimed in disbelief in a TikTok video.
Known on social media as @amy_te_lo_cuenta, she recounted how her journey began in 2019 when she entered the U.S. through the border with an I-220A, a document that allows one to stay in the country without guaranteeing stable immigration status. "You know, that little paper that says 'stay but don't get too excited,'" she explained with a touch of irony.
After spending a year and three months in the U.S., she managed to start the process for obtaining a green card. Seven months later, she received the first notification about her case—what she called "the first torch"—and while waiting for a response, she was summoned for a hearing before an immigration judge.
Expecting a postponement, as had happened before due to her ongoing residency process and fingerprint submission, she was shocked when the judge issued a deportation order. "I screamed, cried, pleaded, but in the end, it was unavoidable," she recalled, visibly shaken.
Given 30 days to leave the United States, her legal team requested an extension while awaiting a decision on her residency. Then, the unexpected happened: her green card was approved.
"I can't explain how I felt at that moment; everything I had built over the past four years was collapsing," she said. Later, she discovered it was all a mistake: "I never actually had a deportation order."
As a takeaway, she offered her followers a piece of advice: "Moral of the story: never take anything for granted, because the final word always belongs to the one above."
The case has sparked numerous reactions on social media, with comments of surprise and support in light of an immigration process that many Cubans find complex and fraught with uncertainty.
Understanding the Complexity of U.S. Immigration for Cubans
What is an I-220A document?
An I-220A is a document issued by U.S. immigration authorities that allows an individual to remain in the country temporarily but does not provide a stable immigration status.
Why did the judge issue a deportation order?
The judge issued a deportation order possibly because the woman’s ongoing residency application did not suffice to halt the legal proceedings, despite her expectations of a postponement.
How did the green card get approved amidst deportation?
Approval of the green card amidst deportation proceedings was likely due to an administrative error, as the woman later discovered she had no deportation order.