Cuban Mother Arrested in Houston During Immigration Check, Leaving Family Behind

In a troubling incident that highlights the plight of migrants holding the I-220A form in the United States, a Cuban mother was taken into custody during an immigration check-in in Houston, separating her from her husband and young daughters.

Cuban journalist Javier Díaz took to Facebook to warn about the growing number of arrests of Cuban migrants with I-220A status. This document, which many received upon crossing the border, allows for release under supervision but does not provide permanent residency or protection from deportation.

The woman, identified as Yessy Mesa, was reportedly detained "without prior notice" during her appointment with immigration authorities in Houston, Texas, leaving her family behind. Her husband, who is a legal resident due to a parole, and their daughters aged 4 and 8, who also hold I-220A status, were left without her.

"They detained her without saying anything and took her away," the journalist shared, quoting family accounts. Mesa's husband noted that she was arrested along with approximately 40 others, mostly Cubans, that day.

Mesa had been living in the United States for three years, with a pending political asylum case and a work permit valid until 2030. "She mentioned she needed to pick up her daughters from school, and they told her someone else would have to do it," her husband recounted, as he now takes care of the children on his own.

Legal Limbo and Rising Concerns

Díaz explained that Mesa's case underscores the legal limbo experienced by thousands of Cubans with the I-220A form. Many entered the U.S. before humanitarian parole programs were established and still lack a clear path to legalize their status, making them vulnerable to arrest and deportation by ICE.

In a previous report, the journalist highlighted a similar situation involving Rolando Padilla Oliva, a Cuban truck driver detained on October 31 after four years in the U.S., despite having no criminal record and valid work documents.

"Without a path to permanent residency through the Cuban Adjustment Act, everyone remains at risk," Díaz warned. He added that arrests have surged in recent weeks, with no politician offering a tangible solution for affected families.

Impact on Families and Community Response

The arrest of Yessy Mesa adds to a series of detentions that have left Cuban families under the I-220A program in a state of anxiety, many of whom have children born or raised in the U.S. "These are good people who have worked, paid taxes, and made their lives here, but today they live in fear," Díaz concluded, urging for solidarity and attention to a situation that seems to be worsening rather than improving.

In various states, families and activists have called for the release of detainees who came to the U.S. seeking education, work, and a new life, but now face deportation proceedings despite having no criminal backgrounds or posing any danger.

Cases like that of a young man aspiring to a professional career or a Cuban married to a Mexican living in constant fear of deportation illustrate the uncertainty facing thousands of migrants under this immigration status. The situation is particularly dire for those with medical issues. A Cuban woman with a severe health condition was detained by ICE despite her diagnosis, sparking outrage within the migrant community.

Her family reported that the arrest endangers her life and that she has not received necessary medical care while in custody. In another similar incident, a desperate family sought assistance for a sick woman detained with an I-220A. Relatives claim her condition has worsened in the detention center and plead for her humanitarian release.

These accounts expose the harsh reality of an immigration policy that continues to impact those who sought stability and security in the United States.