Cuban Teen Left Alone in Guyana After Father's Sudden Death Following U.S. Deportation

Indoniel Lázaro Barrio Saura, a 15-year-old Cuban boy, finds himself stranded and alone in Guyana following the unexpected passing of his father, who was also deported from the United States. With no legal protection in Guyana, his mother, Indiala Saura Pérez, who had lived with him for four years in Miami, is in distress as she struggles to bring him back to the United States.

"He's alone right now because he returned to Guyana with his dad, and his dad passed away two days ago," explained Indiala Saura in an interview where she pleaded for help to shed light on their dire situation.

The teenager had spent four years residing with his mother in the U.S., where his life was settled with access to healthcare and education. "He lived with me for four years. He studied here, his doctor is here, his school is here, everything was fine," his mother recounted in a conversation with Tania Costa.

Deportation and Family Separation

The ordeal traces back to when the father and son entered the U.S. together via the Mexican border. The father missed a scheduled immigration hearing, leading to an automatic deportation order. Despite the mother's legal status in the U.S. and the child's established life there, a migration officer mandated the boy's departure alongside his father.

"He entered with his dad through the border. They had an immigration appointment, but the dad didn't attend his court date, and an automatic deportation order was issued," Indiala Saura explained. "An immigration officer inquired about the child and ordered that he leave the country with his father."

Father and son arrived in Guyana two months ago. Tragically, just two days ago, the father—a young man, according to Indiala—died unexpectedly, leaving the teenager in the care of some acquaintances of his mother and a distant uncle in the country.

Seeking Urgent Solutions

The teen, who excelled academically and was a member of his school's band, now calls his mother daily from Guyana with the same plea: "Mom, get me out of here, mom, what have you found out, mom, I can't take it anymore."

Indiala Saura admits she's "devastated" and is urgently seeking any means possible to repatriate her son. "I am looking for help, guidance, information, anyone who can offer something to find the quickest way to bring him here," she expressed.

She has consulted two lawyers who advised on petitions and claims, but with no concrete results. As of the interview, she was unaware of the possibility of approaching a congressman, an option she plans to explore immediately. Traveling to Guyana is also under consideration, though finances are a constraint. As a last resort, the family contemplates sending the child back to Cuba to live with his grandfather, though the mother fears repercussions due to her past political activism.

Parallels to Other Immigration Struggles

This case brings to mind the plight of Heydi Sánchez Tejeda, a Cuban mother deported to Cuba in April 2025 while her nursing infant remained in the U.S. with her American husband, a situation that sparked outrage in the Cuban community and led a congressman to urge Trump for family reunification.

Guyana, which does not require a visa for Cuban tourists, has become a frequent migration route but also a hotspot of disturbing violence against Cubans. At least four compatriots have been murdered there between 2025 and 2026, intensifying Indiala Saura's fears for her son's safety.

"I just want my son to be with me and to be safe," the mother wrote in a letter to CiberCuba pleading for assistance.