Sailin Escalona has spent seven years away from Cuba, missing the chance to hug her daughters and see her mother and siblings. This September marks her return, but not in the way she envisioned when she crossed 12 borders, including the perilous Darién Gap, to reach the United States.
Through a series of candid posts on her TikTok account @sailin1981, Sailin shared her journey with an honesty that garnered tens of thousands of views. Her story, told without embellishment, details why she ultimately signed for voluntary departure before a judge. It's a complex tale, yet she narrates it with straightforward clarity.
In 2021, Sailin arrived in the U.S. via the so-called southern route: starting in Uruguay, trekking through the Darién jungle, and finally making her way to the U.S. border. She had previously spent two years in Uruguay and five years in the U.S. Upon arrival, she was detained for a month and released with an I-220A status. In essence, she was left in limbo.
The Struggles of Navigating U.S. Immigration
Sailin's case highlights the intricate immigration challenges faced by thousands of Cubans in the United States. Stay updated on immigration processes, voluntary departures, and more in our U.S. Immigration section.
For five years, she attempted to regularize her status, but to no avail. During that time, her youngest daughter, only five when Sailin left, turned 12. "I threw in the towel; I got tired of fighting the impossible," she wrote in the comments of one of her videos. "Out of 1,000 people with I-220A, only one gets residency. People have been waiting since 2017."
The turning point came during her second court hearing. The choices were stark: voluntary departure or formal deportation. Deportation would have resulted in a ten-year ban from the U.S.; voluntary departure kept the door slightly ajar. "It was my decision before a judge, but because there were no other options," she explained to those questioning her choice.
Decisions Driven by Fear and Family
The fear of being detained again weighed heavily on her. "They wanted to detain me for deportation, and given the circumstances, I opted for voluntary departure. I wasn't ready, but having been detained for a month when I first arrived, I didn't want to go through that again," she replied to a follower urging her to hold on a bit longer.
Her videos struck a chord with many. The video announcing her voluntary departure amassed over 65,000 views and nearly 230 comments, mostly from Cubans and other Latin Americans with similar stories: the Darién, the I-220A, years of waiting, and families torn apart. Many urged her not to give up. She responded warmly but firmly: "I’m not telling anyone to give up; this country offers many opportunities, but I had no more options."
What hurts the most in her story, as she herself admits, is not the immigration setback but the lost time. Five years without the embrace of her daughters, her mother, her siblings. "Risking your life and sometimes facing death doesn’t mean your dreams will come true," she wrote in August.
Yet, Sailin doesn't leave defeated. Her latest post's description says it all: "God give me strength, I'm going with my daughters, and not everything is lost; there are still battles to fight."
Her situation adds to the growing list of Cubans with I-220A who have chosen voluntary departure due to the inability to regularize their status, a trend that has intensified in 2026 and underscores the ongoing drama of countless Cuban families separated by years of unresolved waiting.
Understanding the I-220A and Voluntary Departure
What is the I-220A status?
The I-220A status is a form of release from detention on recognizance, meaning the individual is allowed to remain in the U.S. while their immigration case is pending, without a formalized immigration status.
Why would someone choose voluntary departure over deportation?
Choosing voluntary departure allows an individual to leave the U.S. without a formal deportation record, which can carry a ten-year ban on re-entry. Voluntary departure can leave the door open for future legal entry.
What challenges do Cubans face with the U.S. immigration system?
Cubans face numerous hurdles, including lengthy processing times, uncertainty of status with documents like the I-220A, and the emotional toll of family separation.