The Guardian: Woman in Florida deported to Cuba says she was forced to leave baby daughter

[Dennis Donovan]

The Guardian - Woman in Florida deported to Cuba says she was forced to leave baby daughter

Heidy Sánchez says she was told her 17-month-old, who has health problems and is breastfeeding, couldn’t go with her

Joanna Walters
Fri 2 May 2025 10.50 EDT

A mother deported to Cuba reportedly had to hand over her 17-month-old daughter to a lawyer while her husband, a US citizen, stood outside unable to say goodbye.

Heidy Sánchez was told she was being detained for deportation to Cuba when she turned up at her scheduled Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) check-in appointment in Tampa, Florida, last week.

She was told her child, who has health problems and is still breastfeeding, had to stay in the US but could visit her in Cuba, NBC reported.

The Trump administration is embroiled in controversy for removing children who are US citizens from the United States with a parent when the adult is deported. In this case, the child was reportedly not allowed to leave with her mother even though it was what both parents said they wanted.

The administration’s anti-immigration crackdown has put many people in a difficult position because they risk being summarily detained and deported when turning up for routine Ice check-ins. Many people have followed this process without issue for years, and do not have a criminal record – but failing to turn up can bring an order for forcible removal from the US.

/snip

[mcar]

1. The cruelty is the point

[magicarpet]

3. The cruelty is their day's entertainment to,...

... stomp and spit on those who are not White Christian Nationalists.

[Irish_Dem]

2. Trump is obsessed with children being taken from their mothers.

I am going to make an OP about this topic.
Look for it.

[Native]

4. How in the hell can they keep the child from leaving the U.S. when that is what both parents wanted? This is absurd.