Over a year has passed since Heydi Sánchez Tejeda was deported to Cuba, leaving her separated from her daughter, who was still an infant at the time. Now, Sánchez continues to wait for an opportunity to return to the United States and permanently reunite with her family.
"Please don't deny me the right to be a mother," pleaded Sánchez in a report shared on Sunday by journalist Javier Díaz. The case gained national attention when Sánchez was deported in April 2025.
"Let me be with my little girl. She is young and still needs me," Sánchez expressed. Her daughter was about 18 months old at the time of their separation and is now three years old.
Carlos Yuniel Valle, her husband and a U.S. citizen, described the family's situation as "heartbreaking" and highlighted that Sánchez had built a life in the United States, studying and working there before her deportation.
"I wouldn't wish this on anyone in the world. No one should have to go through this," Valle stated.
Deportation and Its Aftermath
Sánchez arrived in the U.S. in 2019 via the southern border and remained under immigration supervision with an I-220B document and a deportation order. In April 2025, during an appointment with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Tampa, she was detained and subsequently sent back to Cuba.
At that time, Heydi publicly appealed to then-President Donald Trump to intervene and help reunite her with her husband and their child. "My baby is small, she needs me," she said from Cuba.
Ongoing Struggles for Reunification
The new report indicates that the family still lacks a date for the interview that would advance the reunification process. It also discusses recent changes in U.S. immigration policy regarding immigrant visas and "public charge" assessments.
While her immigration status remains unresolved, Heydi's daughter lives mostly in the U.S. with her father and has begun to ask why her mother cannot be with her, according to the report.
"How much longer do we have to wait? There is a small child suffering; she is the one bearing all the consequences," Sánchez lamented.
Steps Towards Hope
For Heydi Sánchez Tejeda, the goal remains unchanged since her deportation: to live again with her daughter and husband in the United States. The separation had an immediate impact on the child, with family members noting that she became restless and frequently called for her mother, from whom she had never been apart until then.
In June 2025, the family received a glimmer of hope when her husband's family petition was approved. However, this approval did not mean Sánchez could return to the U.S. immediately.
Her husband explained that this was just "the first step" and that Sánchez still needed to continue the consular process and apply for multiple immigration waivers. Among the hurdles was the one caused by her deportation, which could prevent her reentry for several years unless the necessary waiver is obtained.
More than a year later, the family petition remains approved, but Heydi is still in Cuba, waiting to complete the process that will allow her to return. She explained that she still faces consular procedures, documentation requests, and necessary immigration waivers.
FAQs About U.S. Immigration and Deportation Issues
What are the steps for a deported individual to return to the U.S.?
A deported individual must typically go through a consular process, apply for necessary waivers, and possibly demonstrate that their reentry is in the national interest or poses no threat to the community.
How does a family petition help in the immigration process?
A family petition, once approved, can be the first step in allowing a family member to legally reside in the U.S. It establishes the family relationship and is crucial for moving forward with visa applications and other immigration procedures.