Evelyn Vargas Rodríguez, a Cuban resident, has been tirelessly fighting for over two and a half years to secure custody of her grandchildren, who are currently placed in a care center in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Despite her efforts, the authorities have yet to provide her with a definitive response. In her desperation, she reached out to CiberCuba to seek public assistance.
The Spanish Social Services removed the children from their parents due to addiction issues, according to Evelyn's account. The children's mother resides in Switzerland while their father is in Mallorca. In this situation of neglect, Social Services have taken responsibility for the minors. Evelyn Vargas, back in Cuba, has stepped forward as the sole family member willing to care for them.
"The mother lives in Switzerland and struggles with alcoholism, as does the father. They haven't been able to recover, and I asked for temporary custody of the children as their grandmother because no one else stepped up," she explained.
Evelyn initiated a custody process with the International Red Cross. Investigations conducted in Cuba confirmed that she is in a position to take her grandchildren into her care. However, despite this favorable evaluation, the process has stalled for over two and a half years with no resolution.
"They told me I was suitable to have them in my country, but it's been two and a half years waiting for the father or mother to recover, and they still haven't, nor have they granted me custody," she lamented.
The grandmother also attempted to secure a humanitarian visa from the Spanish Embassy in Cuba to travel to Mallorca and manage the process directly, but her application was denied. She was informed by consular authorities that she needs a letter of invitation from a resident in Spain, which she lacks.
"They told me I need someone abroad to send me an invitation letter so I can go to where they are, but that's impossible for me. I have no one to help me," she expressed.
This requirement creates a vicious cycle: without contacts in Spain, she cannot apply for the visa, and without traveling, she cannot manage the custody process in person. The Spanish Ombudsman has intervened in similar cases of humanitarian visas at the Spanish Consulate General in Havana.
The situation worsens with a second crisis: approximately nine months ago, Evelyn lost all contact with her daughter, the children's mother. No one in her circle in Switzerland knows her whereabouts.
"It's been nine months since I last heard from her. I don't know where she is or what she's doing. I've asked her colleagues in Switzerland if they've seen her, but no one has. I have no one to turn to for information about my daughter," she recounted with distress.
Evelyn Vargas has visited embassies, international organizations, and consulates without success. Her plea is straightforward: she urges institutions, media, or anyone who can intervene to help her grandchildren leave the shelter and be with her.
"It's not right for the children to remain in a care center when they have family, a loving grandmother who's always been there for them," she asserted. In cases like these, where families are separated by distance and immigration barriers, Cuban families face compounded suffering with no institutional resolution in sight.
"I'm a grandmother who's always looked out for her grandchildren and a mother who cares for her daughter, but I know nothing about her now. Please help me, I'm begging," concluded Evelyn Vargas.
Understanding the Custody Battle of Cuban Grandmother Evelyn Vargas
Why were Evelyn Vargas's grandchildren placed in a care center in Spain?
The children were placed in a care center by Spanish Social Services due to their parents' issues with addiction, leaving them in a situation of neglect.
What challenges is Evelyn Vargas facing in obtaining custody of her grandchildren?
Evelyn Vargas faces bureaucratic delays, the requirement of a visa to manage the custody process in person, and the lack of an invitation letter from Spain to obtain the visa.
How has the lack of contact with her daughter affected the situation?
Evelyn has been unable to contact her daughter for nine months, which adds to the uncertainty and difficulty in managing the situation and gathering necessary information.