Over a year has passed since Heidy Sánchez Tejeda was deported from the United States to Cuba, resulting in a forced separation from her young daughter in Florida. Despite her husband's family petition being approved in June 2025, she remains unable to return to the U.S.
"It's been a year. I've given interviews to every network worldwide. All of them! And still, nothing has changed!" shared Heidy in a feature by El Faro, a Central American outlet known for its in-depth investigative journalism. Founded in El Salvador in 1998, El Faro was Latin America's first native digital newspaper.
El Faro's report located Heidy in San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque, where she currently resides. When reporters visited, her daughter was temporarily in Cuba, having traveled with her paternal grandmother. The child was due to return to the U.S., where she lives with her father.
Struggles of Separation
Heidy continues to be apart from her husband, Carlos Yuniel Valle, a Cuban-born U.S. citizen residing in Florida. The couple married in January 2022.
Despite the family reunification petition's approval, Heidy is stuck in a bureaucratic limbo. "The petition is approved. What's happening? I went to the office. I went to the embassy. They demand evidence of my relationship with Carlos," she explained.
Heidy shared with El Faro a folder brimming with photographs and documents chronicling the couple's journey—from dating and marriage to pregnancy ultrasounds and their daughter's birth.
A Painful Detachment
The ordeal began in April 2025, widely covered by CiberCuba. Heidy had arrived in the U.S. in 2019, living under immigration supervision with a Form I-220B and a deportation order. During this time, she built her life in Florida, marrying Valle and having their daughter via in vitro fertilization.
On April 24, 2025, Heidy was deported to Cuba after being detained by ICE during a Tampa immigration appointment. Her husband and daughter remained in the U.S.
At the time, their daughter was around 18 months old and still breastfeeding, according to previous accounts and Heidy's recent testimony.
Recalling the moment ICE agents informed her of her deportation, Heidy said, "They told me: 'You're in ICE custody. The child is American, she leaves, but you stay and are deported to Cuba.' Just like that."
The separation was immediate, preventing even a final reunion with her husband. "It's a terrible feeling. My world collapsed; my soul left my body. Being forced to part from my daughter, who was a year and a half," she remembered.
Hope Through Approval
In June 2025, the family received what seemed like promising news: Carlos's family petition for his wife was approved. However, this was just the first stage in a lengthy process, not guaranteeing Heidy's immediate return to the U.S.
She clarified shortly after that she still lacked a visa and needed to continue with consular procedures, attend an interview, and process necessary immigration waivers.
"I'm still in Cuba, waiting for progress," Heidy noted in June 2025.
Over a year later, the core situation remains unchanged: Heidy is in Cuba while her husband and daughter reside in Florida.
Maintaining Family Bonds
In the face of distance, the family strives to preserve the mother-daughter connection. Heidy stays involved in her daughter's daily routine, from waking up to meals and bedtime stories, even through phone calls.
"I sing to her at night to help her sleep and tell her a story," Heidy shared.
During a conversation with El Faro, Heidy asked her daughter why she couldn't visit Tampa. The child replied, "Because you're missing the papers."
The prolonged separation has also affected the child emotionally, prompting the family to seek professional guidance.
"She has trauma. She constantly asks people, 'When are you leaving? Why are you leaving?' even if she just met them. We're all consulting a specialist," Heidy revealed, adding that her daughter fears people leaving.
Returning to a country she left behind years ago in search of a new life has been challenging for Heidy. "I'm not here. My mind and heart are over there," she summarized.
As she waits for a resolution, her goal remains unchanged: reunification with her husband and daughter in Florida.
"The only thing that matters to me is reuniting with my husband and daughter," she stated.
Understanding the Challenges of Immigration Separation
What steps has Heidy taken to reunite with her family?
Heidy has continued to pursue the necessary legal procedures, including visiting the embassy and providing evidence of her relationship with her husband. Despite the initial approval of the family petition, she is still navigating the complex immigration process.
How has the separation impacted Heidy's daughter?
The prolonged separation has caused emotional distress for Heidy's daughter, leading the family to seek support from a specialist. The child often questions when people will leave, indicating a fear of abandonment.
Why was Heidy deported from the United States?
Heidy was deported following an immigration appointment where she was taken into ICE custody. Despite living in the U.S. under immigration supervision, she faced a deportation order that led to her return to Cuba.