Heartbreaking Account of a Cuban Woman in the U.S. Two Years After Her Husband's Deportation to Cuba

Roxana Maldonado, a Cuban woman who has resided in the United States for over two decades, recently shared a poignant narrative on social media. Her life underwent a seismic shift following the deportation of her husband, Reinier Gutiérrez, back to Cuba. In a heartfelt TikTok video, the young mother opened up about the emotional toll and the everyday challenges she faces in keeping her family connected despite the geographical divide, the precarious conditions on the island, and the looming uncertainty of the future.

"Life after the deportation of a loved one, in my case, my husband, is, oh my God, the hardest, most brutal, most humiliating experience a person can endure," she began her emotional testimony.

Challenges of Communication and Daily Life

Her husband was deported in 2023 after being detained for several months at a U.S. immigration center. Despite being a U.S. citizen, Roxana was not given the chance to marry him or present humanitarian arguments. Their youngest child, merely three months old at the time, is a U.S. citizen and faced health issues.

Two years later, the ordeal persists. The most painful aspect for her is not the material loss but the inability to communicate with him. "My husband is from a rural area in Cuba... not even with the recharge or the data can I write to him or talk to him whenever I want," she lamented. Frequent power outages and poor connections hinder their conversations. "Every time I'm talking to my husband, I can't complete a conversation," she explained.

Struggles of a Fragmented Family

Roxana detailed that her husband relies on an old power generator he had sent to his family while living in the U.S., which broke down and needed repairs. With the limited funds he had after detention, he purchased fuel to have electricity when she and the children visit Cuba soon. "I’m going next week with the kids to reset a bit, because this has been a two-year process," she shared.

From Cuba, her husband strives to maintain his composure. "My love, I can't go crazy because the one who comes here already troubled won't survive," he said, aware of the psychological impact of returning to an island devoid of resources and hope. In moments of desperation, Roxana has considered staying in Cuba with her children, but he urged her to see the situation firsthand before deciding.

The Broader Impact and Public Response

"Cubans have no luck; we were born with a burden," she expressed. "We are not at peace, neither in Cuba nor here." Her testimony resonated with many on social media, sparking empathy and solidarity. Numerous individuals shared similar experiences of family separation, uncertain immigration processes, and daily anxiety. Several mothers shared stories of raising children alone while their partners are detained or deported. Others offered words of encouragement, messages of faith, and technical advice to tackle power outages or improve communication with Cuba.

Roxana’s story originated in May 2023 when her husband, Reinier Gutiérrez, was deported after several months in U.S. immigration custody. He had crossed the southern border in 2020 and was under an immediate deportation order (I-220A). At the time of his deportation, their youngest child was only three months old. From Cuba, Gutiérrez lamented the insensitivity towards his case: "They showed no mercy, nothing for a child who is an American citizen, who has illnesses. My grandfather, who is elderly and an American citizen, and all these people depend on me," he said then.

In the U.S., Roxana criticized the authorities for not allowing her to formalize her marriage once her partner was detained. "He complied, never failed to report, and during his time here, he committed no crimes or violations," she explained. "His child is here, his whole life is here. I don't know whether to cry, scream, or get angry. I feel helpless," she added tearfully.

The separation continues to define this family's daily life. Roxana faces the responsibility of raising her children alone, tackling technological barriers, and bearing the emotional weight of sustaining a fractured home. Her story illustrates that deportation's impact lingers long after the flight back; its consequences quietly and persistently affect those left waiting.

Roxana's ordeal is not an isolated case. Recently, the family of Cuban Ariel Cruz Penton has also spoken out against his potential deportation after seven years of residence in the U.S. without a criminal record. Cruz was detained by ICE in Colorado while working, and since then, has faced a process fraught with irregularities, as his wife, Alexandria Dowell, reported. "This is his home. Not Cuba, but here, with us," she stated as she launched a legal battle to prevent his forced return to the island.

Adding to these stories of separation and uncertainty is the case of Heydi Sánchez, a Cuban mother deported last April and separated from her husband and daughter in the U.S. Although her family reunification request was approved, she still lacks a visa and has not started the consular process. "Every day we say: one less day, we’ve overcome another day," she said from Cuba, where she awaits a reunion with her family. Her situation, similar to that of Roxana and Ariel, highlights the slow and complex nature of immigration procedures, even when there are clear humanitarian reasons and political and legal support.