A Cuban woman named Mercedes, who is 39 weeks pregnant, was apprehended by immigration officials in Pervouralsk, Russia, shortly after a medical appointment, just days before her expected delivery.
Following her detention, Mercedes was placed in a foreign detention center and later taken to a hospital under custody when she began experiencing contractions, as reported by Russian media E1.RU on August 18.
Immigration officers confiscated her passport and its notarized translation, transferring her to the Temporary Detention Center for Foreign Citizens in Ekaterinburg. Her partner and her lawyer have voiced concerns that the facility lacks the necessary conditions for a pregnant woman and a newborn.
Her partner, Sergey, a Russian citizen living in Pervouralsk, shared with E1.RU that they met in Moscow and eventually moved to Ekaterinburg, where Mercedes became pregnant.
Sergey explained that he paid for her private medical consultations and later discovered that her migration card had expired, and she lacked a work permit.
During her second trimester, they traveled to Moscow seeking assistance from the Cuban consulate regarding her documents, but according to Sergey, they received no response. They were unable to resolve her immigration status or formalize their relationship.
The detention took place just days before her due date.
"It was the third trimester, and Mercedes was under the care of a general physician at a private clinic. Immigration officers detained us right after leaving the hospital," Sergey recounted to E1.RU.
Mercedes was due to be admitted to the hospital on August 17, with an expected delivery date of August 19. After her detention, she began having contractions and was escorted by police to a maternity ward, but was later returned to the detention center.
Sergey has hired a lawyer and sought help from Tatyana Merzlyakova, the Ombudsperson for the Sverdlovsk region. He fears that Mercedes could be deported to Cuba with their baby, or that the child could be separated from them.
"I want to protect my family. My child is my priority. It's crucial for him to grow up in a healthy family environment," Sergey stated.
Their lawyer, Veronika Aleksandrovna Nikitina from Law and Law, criticized the conditions in which Mercedes is being held.
"The conditions at the migrant center are terrible; it's no place for a baby. The child could be sent back to Cuba with her, which the parents don't want, or they could end up in an orphanage," she said. Nikitina added that Mercedes suffers from asthma and shares a room with smokers.
Sergey also reported a decline in his partner's physical condition. "Mercedes's pain has worsened; she can barely walk, and they keep sending her back to the police. I believe they are neglecting her health; she hasn't even received pain relief," he lamented.
This case emerges amid Russia's increasingly stringent immigration policies, impacting many Cubans.
Since April, Cuban migrants with documentation issues have been sent to the deportation center in Sakharovo near Moscow, where families have reported periods of no contact and challenges in obtaining information about their situation.
The issue is particularly sensitive when it involves pregnant women. elTOQUE has documented instances of Cuban women detained in Russian deportation centers during pregnancy and the legal challenges their children face due to the country's citizenship laws.
As E1.RU's report concluded, Ekaterinburg's police had not yet provided their perspective on Mercedes's case.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuban Migrants in Russia
What led to Mercedes's detention in Russia?
Mercedes was detained due to her expired migration card and lack of a work permit while in Russia.
What are the main concerns regarding Mercedes's detention?
The main concerns include the inadequate conditions for a pregnant woman and newborn at the detention center and the risk of deportation or separation from her child.
How has the Russian immigration policy affected Cuban migrants?
The stricter Russian immigration policies have resulted in many Cubans facing detentions and potential deportation, with challenges in resolving their legal status.