Deivy Alemán Oropesa, who voluntarily left the United States to avoid forced deportation, is enduring some of the toughest times of his life, separated from his wife and ill daughter. "Being away from my daughter and wife right now, leaving them in such a vulnerable state... it's incredibly hard, truly difficult," Deivy Alemán Oropesa shared, his voice breaking, in a recorded message from his home in Palmira, Cienfuegos. He is struggling to adjust to a reality that feels foreign.
The Cuban national, previously residing in Orlando, Florida, self-deported on September 14 to evade detention and deportation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which would have barred his return for a minimum of five years. In a video shared by journalist Alexis Boentes, Deivy explained that his family in Cuba understood his need to be with his daughter, who requires constant medical care due to her fragile health condition.
Deivy is making every effort to reunite with his family. "I am hopeful, and my wife is too, that I can be with them soon. We are fighting and doing everything we can," he stated. He also expressed the difficulty of readjusting to life in Cuba: "It's hard to adapt, it's completely different. The lifestyle we had there... it's very different here. It's truly challenging to adapt," he admitted.
A Case Stirring the Cuban Community
The story of Deivy Alemán gained public attention after it emerged that ICE had given him only a few days to leave the country or face arrest and forced deportation. On Sunday, September 14, his family was part of a heart-wrenching farewell at Miami airport, where cameras captured his young daughter in tears as she watched her father depart.
His wife, Yisel Miguel Sarduy, has been sharing videos and messages pleading for help from authorities, asserting that their daughter "needs him very much" and that the separation could severely impact her health. During his time in the United States, Deivy was the primary breadwinner. Their daughter, a U.S. citizen, has undergone three open-heart surgeries and is in need of a transplant. The I-130 petition filed by his wife with USCIS remains pending, with hopes it will expedite his return.
Attorney Rosaly Chaviano clarified that Alemán was under immigration supervision (form I-220B), pointing out that current policies "barely consider humanitarian factors, even when U.S. citizen minors are involved." In comments to Univision, journalist Javier Díaz described the case as a glaring example of how the system overlooks even migrants with exemplary conduct: "If you have a deportation order, you will be deported."
Meanwhile, from Palmira, this Cuban father sends a clear message: "I just want to be with my daughter again, as I always have. I did everything right. I love that country. I just want a chance to return."
Key Questions About Deivy Alemán's Immigration Case
Why did Deivy Alemán choose to self-deport?
Deivy Alemán self-deported to avoid being detained and deported by ICE, which would have prevented him from returning to the U.S. for at least five years.
What are the medical needs of Deivy Alemán's daughter?
Deivy's daughter, a U.S. citizen, has undergone three open-heart surgeries and requires a heart transplant, necessitating constant medical attention.
What is the current status of Deivy Alemán's immigration petition?
The I-130 petition filed by his wife with USCIS is still pending, with hopes that it will facilitate his return to the United States as quickly as possible.