A multitude of thoughts might flood the mind of a young girl waking up to find her father absent, as well as that of a mother shattered inside. Yet, missing Davy Alemán Oropesa is most poignantly expressed by the single word uttered by the child: "daddy." On Monday, Yisel Miguel Sarduy shared a heartfelt video on social media that has touched the hearts of many Cubans, both on the island and abroad.
The video captures her young daughter, just waking up, softly saying "daddy" as she adjusts to her first morning without him. Accompanying the video, a caption succinctly describes the moment: "First day without daddy at home and her initial reaction upon waking." Alongside the post, the mother expressed her hope: "May God allow my husband to return to our girl."
This family's poignant separation follows the self-deportation of Davy Alemán Oropesa, who departed Miami International Airport for Cuba on Sunday after receiving an order from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The case, reported by several Florida TV stations, highlights the family's distress, especially as it involves a young girl who previously underwent heart surgery and may need a transplant in the future.
Davy bid farewell through tears to his wife and two daughters, one of whom is just two years old and awaiting a heart transplant. His decision to leave voluntarily—referred to technically as self-deportation—was made to avoid being indefinitely detained and deported from an ICE facility.
Having spent seven years in the United States, Davy arrived with dreams packed in a suitcase. Now, those dreams have been shattered at a TSA security checkpoint. The separation has left a visible mark on his family. His wife, a U.S. citizen, has filed a reunification request with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), but as that process unfolds, uncertainty looms.
Yisel had to quit her job to care for their daughter, who underwent open-heart surgery and now requires a transplant as her only chance for survival. "I feel like I'm on the verge of living on the streets because how can I care for my daughter and pay the rent?" Yisel tearfully admitted in earlier statements.
The family faces a significant challenge: to maintain emotional and financial stability while hoping for an immigration pardon that would allow Davy to return and reunite with his daughter. The child's small gesture, a mere whisper upon waking, powerfully underscores the human drama behind the statistics and bureaucratic decisions.
In many recent cases involving Cuban migrants in the United States, ICE's pressure has driven more than a few to choose voluntary departure to avoid worse scenarios. However, few cases so starkly reveal the emotional and familial dimensions of forced exile as this one.
For now, there remains a video, a restrained cry, and a word that captures it all: "Daddy." Less than 24 hours had passed since Davy Alemán boarded his flight back to Cuba when messages of support began pouring in for his family.
Journalist Javier Díaz from Univision News shared one of these messages on Facebook, sent by a newly arrived Cuban family in the U.S. offering shelter and food to Davy's wife and daughter. "Cubans are truly very supportive, and when they come together, they can achieve great things," Díaz wrote, visibly moved.
Understanding the Impact of Forced Family Separation
What led to Davy Alemán Oropesa's self-deportation?
Davy Alemán Oropesa opted for self-deportation to avoid indefinite detention and deportation by ICE, choosing to leave the United States voluntarily.
How has this separation affected Davy's family?
The separation has placed emotional and financial strain on the family, with Yisel Miguel Sarduy having to quit her job to care for their daughter, who needs a heart transplant.
What support has the family received from the community?
A newly arrived Cuban family in the U.S. has offered Yisel and her daughter shelter and food, demonstrating the solidarity among the Cuban community.