Cuban content creator Astry (@aleagaastry0) recently shared a video on social media detailing her deportation to Cuba after spending several years in the United States under a deportation order classified as an I-220B.
"I was an I-220B case. I've had a deportation order since 2020," began the young woman, recounting how during her routine check-ins with authorities, she was informed about her transfer to a self-deportation program.
This program, initiated under the Trump Administration and coordinated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), allows migrants to voluntarily leave the country.
Despite this, Astry explains that before the deadline given to her, she was summoned again and detained by immigration authorities.
"They told me I had 90 days to leave the United States voluntarily, but before those 90 days were up, they called me back in and said I would be detained. Keep in mind that I was an I-220B, not an I-220A," she clarified.
The young woman highlighted the fear many Cubans in the U.S. have of deportation. Once detained, they endure a long and exhausting process.
"Cubans are delayed in being returned to our home country because Cuba only has one flight a month, and many people are waiting. I spent three months detained waiting for my deportation," she shared.
Astry also described the conditions inside immigration detention centers. "Transfers are terrible, you go days without water, food, sleep... the treatment is something I’d rather not get into," she lamented.
In her testimony, she made it clear that having American citizen relatives does not prevent deportation.
"It doesn't matter if you have American citizen children or claims. In my case, my husband is an American citizen, but that means nothing. When you have a deportation order, it doesn't help at all," she stated.
She advised those in similar immigration situations, "If you have the chance to avoid detention, try not to get caught because being in the detention center is extremely difficult."
Astry was deported to Cuba, leaving behind her family in the United States, particularly her husband and child. They recently visited her during a vacation, and she now looks forward to a lengthy family reunification process with no clear timeline for their next meeting.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) continually extends its "invitation to undocumented migrants" to participate in the voluntary self-deportation program, "Return Home Project," coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
This initiative offers a "streamlined and incentivized" alternative for leaving the U.S. without facing detention or forced removal processes, aiming to ease the overcrowded immigration system and facilitate safe and orderly departures for foreigners with active deportation orders.
Understanding the I-220B Deportation Process
What is an I-220B order?
An I-220B order is a specific type of deportation order for migrants in the United States, which mandates their removal from the country.
Does having American citizen family members help prevent deportation?
No, having family members who are American citizens does not prevent deportation if there is an active deportation order.
What is the "Return Home Project"?
The "Return Home Project" is a voluntary self-deportation program that allows undocumented migrants to leave the United States without facing detention or forced removal processes.