Yoelí Altagracia Bracho Casanova, a 26-year-old from Venezuela, was living with her Cuban-American husband in Jacksonville, Florida, when she was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during an immigration appointment last Thursday. Within hours, she and her one-year-eight-month-old daughter, Rebeca Peña Bracho, who is a U.S. citizen by birth, were transferred to a detention center in Texas.
Rebeca's father, Samuel Peña, and her maternal grandmother, Yosvania Fajardo, both U.S. citizens of Cuban descent, shared their ordeal in an interview with Tania Costa. They explained that ICE refused to accept legal documents from the family's lawyer, intended to halt the deportation.
The Legal Battle to Prevent Deportation
According to Samuel Peña, their attorney arrived at the appointment with a "stay of removal," a request for forgiveness for irregular entry, and a residency application. Despite Yoelí having an approved I-130 form, ICE rejected the documents.
"When the lawyer tried to hand over the stay of removal, they refused to take it," Peña explained. The attorney informed them he could present it the following day in Orlando.
Yet, in the early morning hours, around 2 a.m., Yoelí and her daughter were moved to Texas. "They transferred them at 2 a.m. with a child who is just over a year old, effectively moving them out of jurisdiction for processing the document," the father stated.
Communication Breakdown and Family Distress
From Thursday until Sunday, the family received no contact from Yoelí or the baby. The first call came on Sunday from an unidentified number and lasted less than five minutes.
Samuel Peña visited the ICE office seeking information, as he had been told his wife had a phone and could call him. "Do you think if she had phone access, she wouldn't have contacted me since Thursday when she was detained?" he questioned an officer.
Five Years in Limbo
Yoelí Bracho had been in the U.S. for five years on humanitarian parole, with no criminal record, and her family petition I-130 was approved in 2024. The legal team described her case as "the most complete" they had handled.
Yosvania Fajardo, the child's grandmother, made a public plea for a judge to review the case before her daughter-in-law was deported. An hour later, she learned it was too late, and Yoelí and her granddaughter were already in Venezuela.
"I know someone has the power to intervene and request a judge to review her case before she's deported," Fajardo said, unaware that the deportation had already occurred.
Allegations of Unequal Treatment
Fajardo also highlighted what she sees as discrimination against naturalized citizens. "I feel there's a bias between American citizens born here and those who naturalize," she asserted.
The family reached out to several political representatives. Senator Rick Scott's office replied that they couldn't intervene. Congressman George Robinson hadn't responded by the time of the interview, and Representative María Elvira Salazar, known for her immigration work, couldn't act since the family was outside her district.
Previous Cases and Long-Term Implications
This incident is reminiscent of Heydi Sánchez Tejeda's case, where a Cuban mother was deported from Tampa in April 2025 during a routine ICE appointment, leaving her baby with its American father.
The lawyer warned that the legal process for Yoelí Bracho's return to the U.S. might take up to 10 years. "Imagine, 10 years without seeing her, watching my daughter grow up, they change so quickly at that age," Samuel Peña lamented.
Frequently Asked Questions on Deportation and Family Impact
What legal documents were rejected by ICE in Yoelí Bracho's case?
ICE rejected a "stay of removal," a request for forgiveness for irregular entry, and a residency application, even though Yoelí had an approved I-130 form.
How long might it take for Yoelí Bracho to return to the U.S. legally?
The legal process for her return could take up to 10 years, according to her lawyer.
What actions have the family taken to address the deportation?
The family contacted several political representatives for assistance, but were unable to secure help in time.