Heartbreaking Story of Cuban Father Self-Deporting to Avoid ICE Arrest: "My Daughter Needs Me"

"I have to deport myself because there's no other option. If I don't leave, I'll never have my status in the United States. Life can't go on like this," stated a distraught Deivy Alemán Oropesa. This Cuban father, living in Orlando, Florida, is compelled to leave the U.S. voluntarily after receiving a deportation order from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The family's future is now shrouded in uncertainty, especially since their daughter suffers from a severe heart condition necessitating more open-heart surgeries soon.

"It's going to be tough. I'm worried our daughter might fall into depression and have a setback. I practically see myself living on the street because how am I supposed to care for my little girl and work to pay rent and bills?" expressed Yisel Miguel Sarduy, Deivy's wife, her voice cracking with desperation.

"No one represents me in this country. I've reached out to senators, congresspeople, and nothing. My case isn't made up, it's a real life-or-death situation. (...) Every day, the child greets her dad with a hug, and come Monday, she won't be able to," she lamented.

Journalist Javier Díaz shared a video this Friday on social media featuring the Cuban father's statements, visibly affected as he explains why he made this drastic decision and shows how his bags are already packed for his flight to Cuba on Sunday.

Fateful ICE Appointment Alters Their Lives

Deivy Alemán Oropesa attended a routine ICE appointment on September 8th where he was told he must leave the country by September 14th or face detention and forced deportation.

"At the ICE appointment, they informed me that if I stayed, they would have to detain me and deport me themselves. Otherwise, I had to present my departure ticket from the United States this Sunday. I think the best option is to leave voluntarily," he explained to Díaz.

The family never expected such an abrupt outcome. Their daughter has undergone three open-heart surgeries and requires further medical procedures. While the mother dedicates herself to her care, Deivy was the sole provider for the home.

Concern for Family Left Behind

For Deivy, the agony of leaving isn't just in the exile but in the forced separation from his sick daughter. "What worries me most is leaving my family here, the child who is awaiting another surgery," he confessed, his voice breaking.

Alemán Oropesa has no criminal record. He entered the country irregularly through the border seven years ago and has been living with an active deportation order ever since. ICE offered him the option of voluntary departure, warning that failure to comply could result in arrest and placement in an immigration detention center.

Javier Díaz, who has closely followed the case, criticized the harshness of the immigration system on social media. "It's a sad case where humanitarian reasons or being an exemplary migrant don't matter; if you have a deportation order, you will be deported," said the journalist.

Hope for Family Reunification

Despite the pain, Deivy remains hopeful. "The hope I have is that when I'm in Cuba, the reunification petition my wife filed comes through. And we'll be together here as soon as possible," he stated with determination.

The family has an approved I-130 petition, part of the family reunification process. However, the path is fraught with obstacles. According to Yisel, neither medical evidence nor humanitarian arguments were enough to halt the deportation. "It was all for nothing," she lamented.

Community Support and Criticism of ICE

The case has sparked a wave of solidarity on social media, where many users criticize the lack of sensitivity from U.S. immigration authorities.

The plight of this family humanizes a reality faced by thousands of Cubans in the United States, trapped in an inflexible immigration system, even after years of residence and exemplary conduct.

Deivy Alemán Oropesa is scheduled to leave the United States this Sunday, September 14th. Any attempt to stay past this date could lead to immediate detention and an irrevocable deportation.