Husband of Deported Cuban Mother Clarifies Family Reunification Approval Doesn't Mean Immediate Return to the U.S.

The tale of Heidy Sánchez Tejeda, labeled as the "mother I-220B," who was forcibly separated from her nursing baby and deported back to Cuba in April, has sent shockwaves through the Cuban-American community. Her husband, Carlos Yuniel Valle, has been relentless in his efforts to bring her back to Tampa. With the support of Democratic Congresswoman Kathy Castor, he has managed to expedite the family reunification process, which he initiated two years ago upon their marriage. On the very day of an interview with CiberCuba, Valle received a crucial letter enabling his attorney, Claudia Cañizares, to progress in the claim process. "People think she'll be here tomorrow, but that's not the case. This is just the first step, and now the real battle begins," Valle remarked during a 25-minute conversation where he recounted his wife's journey to the U.S. and her subsequent deportation back to Cuba on April 23.

Heidy Sánchez Tejeda's entry into the United States was fraught with challenges. Crossing the Mexican border, she found herself detained for nine months before being released with an I-220B document, which included a deportation order. On April 20, during a routine check-in with ICE in Tampa, she was separated from her 18-month-old daughter and informed that Cuba had agreed to her deportation. Her pleas, emphasizing her two-year marriage to a Cuban-American citizen and the stalled family reunification process, fell on deaf ears. The overlapping legal processes had caused significant delays, and despite her desperate attempts, she was torn from her daughter, whom she was still nursing.

Carlos Yuniel Valle met Heidy Sánchez while she was working as a dishwasher in a restaurant. After dating for a year, they married, and she began working as a hotel room cleaner in downtown Tampa. Over time, she pursued education to become a nurse, eventually working in elderly care. It was during this job that she was deported back to Cuba. The company she worked for learned of her deportation through media reports and reached out to Valle to settle her pending paycheck. However, upon checking, they discovered that the bank had canceled her accounts after her deportation, causing the money to vanish. "She entered this country with the wrong foot," her husband lamented.

Life hasn't been easy for Heidy Sánchez. She faced difficulties conceiving and resorted to in vitro fertilization to have her daughter. Achieving motherhood was a long and challenging journey, but she ultimately succeeded. Tragically, just 18 months later, she was separated from her child. Upon returning to Cuba, she initially lived with her mother in Marianao, but following her stepfather's death, they moved to a cramped room. The separation from her child and husband has been emotionally devastating, yet she calls her daughter five times a day, battling through power outages and poor reception.

Valle has been instrumental in her move to Artemisa, where she awaits the family reunification process's outcome. The journey is not without challenges, as she requires three waivers, including one for her deportation, which currently bars her from entering the U.S. for five years. Nevertheless, Carlos Yuniel Valle remains hopeful. With the dedicated support of Congresswoman Kathy Castor, there is optimism that Heidy Sánchez can return to the U.S., and their family can be whole once more.