A Cuban woman on TikTok, known as yanisleidis27, shared her outrage over her husband's deportation after living in the United States for more than two decades without a criminal record. She described the experience as "three months of terror and uncertainty," highlighting the ordeal faced by many immigrants under the custody of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The woman revealed that her husband was ultimately deported to Mexico after being held in detention centers lacking basic humane conditions. Her husband, who suffers from multiple chronic illnesses, was denied access to the medication she tried to provide him.
In Limbo: A Life Turned Upside Down
Yanisleidis detailed how her husband lived in the U.S. for 23 years under a final deportation order. He initially arrived by raft and soon returned to Cuba to bring his daughters back but was apprehended, processed, and sentenced to 25 years in prison. After five years, during a prison leave, he attempted another sea crossing but was caught by a U.S. Coast Guard. To avoid being sent back to Cuba, he falsely claimed to be a smuggler. Although exonerated by federal court, an immigration judge had already signed his final deportation, a decision that was never overturned.
Throughout these years, he lived with work permits, a social security number, and a driver's license, renewed annually like many Cubans with deportation orders. Aware of the increasing ICE raids, the couple had started planning to leave the U.S. voluntarily before his arrest.
Violent Arrest and Family Separation
The arrest took place on June 6, when eight ICE agents stormed their home in Houston, Texas. Yanisleidis condemned the arrest as "extremely violent," despite her husband posing no threat.
During the ordeal, she sought legal help but claimed many lawyers exploit migrants' desperation with false promises. She paid large sums without receiving the expected assistance.
Choosing Deportation to Escape Detention
Once detained, authorities informed the Cuban national that Cuba refused his return, offering Mexico as an alternative destination. He accepted immediately, preferring to leave detention rather than endure indefinite confinement.
Despite his prompt agreement to leave, ICE held him for three more months, a decision neither he nor his wife understood. "Some might not grasp why I feel relieved, even happy, about his deportation. But in ICE centers, detainees' lives are at risk. It's better for him to be out than in," she stated.
Exposing a Broken and Inhumane System
In her account, the Cuban woman emphasized that their experience is not an isolated case. She described how ICE moves detainees from one facility to another without notifying families, that the tracking system fails, and that detainees are treated like "objects."
She harshly criticized the lack of transparency and the disregard for migrants' health. After spending over 23 years building a life in the United States, her husband now finds himself in Mexico, though she assures they will be reunited soon. Meanwhile, she vows to continue using social media to highlight what she calls "the ordeal of thousands of families in similar situations."
Understanding the Deportation Challenges of Cuban Immigrants
How long did the Cuban husband live in the U.S. before deportation?
He lived in the United States for 23 years before being deported.
What was the reason for his initial arrest?
He was initially arrested after returning to the U.S. from Cuba to fetch his daughters, without proper residency, leading to a 25-year prison sentence.
Why did the husband agree to deportation to Mexico?
He agreed to be deported to Mexico to avoid indefinite detention in harsh conditions after being informed that Cuba would not accept his return.