Yuniel Abreu, a 42-year-old Cuban with no criminal record and a pending residency under the Cuban Adjustment Act, shared his story from the island after being deported from the United States. His experience and his wife's testimony have stirred anger among the Cuban exile community.
In a conversation with Noticias Telemundo, Abreu expressed his bewilderment over being sent back to Cuba despite having legally worked in the U.S.
"I don't see it as fair, honestly, because supposedly they were going to deport those with criminal records," he stated from Cuba.
Abreu, who entered the U.S. through the southern border in 2020 and was granted a parole or conditional stay (I-220A), recounted that he was working at his construction company the day before his arrest.
"The day before my court date, I was working construction, already with my own company, and I had to leave the job unfinished because they detained me," he explained.
From Cuba, Abreu maintains communication with his family through video calls. His wife, Yeni Fernández, described the emotional toll of their separation in the same report.
"The distance is very painful, and suddenly finding yourself tied hand and foot, unable to do anything, is very sad," she expressed.
Despite having active appeals with the Board of Immigration Appeals and a pending residency application, Abreu was deported. His attorney, Lissette Tocado, told Univision 23 that "an active appeal with the Board implies an automatic stay of deportation," which should have prevented his removal.
His wife and her children, who relied on his work, remain in the United States. Fernández emphasized that Abreu was "running his company, working legally, and didn’t even have a traffic ticket. He was merely a worker, someone who fled a dictatorship."
His story has prompted messages of support and frustration on social media, with many labeling it as a "painful injustice." This incident occurs amid a surge in deportations: over 1,370 Cubans were returned to the island in 2025 across eleven flights coordinated between Washington and Havana, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Cuba's Ministry of the Interior (MININT).
"Me here, my wife over there… it's a very sad situation that I wouldn't wish upon anyone," Abreu remarked from Cuba.
Understanding the Deportation of Yuniel Abreu
Why was Yuniel Abreu deported despite having a legal work status?
Yuniel Abreu was deported despite having a legal work status because his deportation occurred while he had active appeals and a pending residency application that should have halted the process.
What is the reaction from the Cuban exile community?
The Cuban exile community has expressed outrage and solidarity with Yuniel Abreu, considering his deportation a "painful injustice" and sharing messages of support on social media.
How has the deportation affected Yuniel Abreu's family?
Yuniel Abreu's deportation has left his wife and her children in the United States without his support, causing emotional distress due to their separation.