logo
Illegal immigrant complains after she's deported without her daughter — but ICE said she wanted girl to stay in US

Illegal immigrant complains after she's deported without her daughter — but ICE said she wanted girl to stay in US

New York Post29-04-2025

HAVANA, April 29 – Cuban mother Heidy Sanchez collapsed into tears as she recalled the moment last week when U.S. immigration officials in Florida told her she would be deported and separated from her still-breastfeeding 1-year-old daughter.
'They told me to call my husband, that our daughter had to stay and that I would go,' she told Reuters in an interview at a family member's home near the Cuban capital, Havana. 'My daughter got nervous and agitated and began to ask for milk, but it didn't matter to them.'
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security told Reuters that Sanchez' statement was inaccurate and contradicted standard Immigration and Customs Enforcement protocol.
3 Heidy Sanchez, 44, reacts after talking to her daughter who is in the U.S. during an interview with Reuters at her home in Havana, Cuba, April 28, 2025.
REUTERS
'Parents are asked if they want to be removed with their children or ICE will place the children with someone the parent designates,' Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in an emailed response late on Monday.
'In this case, the parent stated they wanted to be removed without the child and left the child in the care of a safe relative in the United States.'
DHS did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for evidence that Sanchez had been offered the choice to take her child with her to Cuba.
Sanchez said she arrived in her home country hours after being detained, with no passport or identification and no documentation from the United States explaining the reason for her deportation.
The contradictions in Sanchez' case highlight concerns among civil rights advocates over the due process rights of immigrants during U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, a key platform of his 2024 election campaign.
3 Carlos Yuniel Valle, husband of Heidy Sanchez stands with his young daughter and supporters at a press conference established by the family and local social justice groups to protest the deportation of his wife to Cuba by American immigration authorities.
David Decker/Shutterstock
Trump's administration on Monday touted the early results of the aggressive enforcement measures, highlighting a drop in illegal border crossings.
Democrats and civil rights advocates, however, have criticized his administration's tactics, including the cases of several U.S.-citizen children recently deported with their parents. One of the children had a rare form of cancer, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.
Unlike those cases, Sanchez, who was surprised at a routine check-in at an ICE office in Tampa last Thursday, said she was given no choice but to leave behind her daughter, a U.S. citizen.
She said officials separated her from her child, escorted her to a van, handcuffed her and later that day, deported her by air to Cuba alongside 81 others.
Sanchez, 44, had been under deportation orders since 2019 but was allowed to temporarily live and work in the United States as long as she regularly checked in with ICE.
During that time, she married a Cuban-born naturalized U.S. citizen and had her first child in November of 2023.
Her husband sought legal residence in the U.S. for Sanchez two years ago as a result of their marriage, but had yet to receive a response, she said.
Sanchez broke down several times during the interview with Reuters. She said she understood that ICE officials were 'just doing their job' but said separating a mother from her breastfeeding infant was 'unjust.'
'I can't sleep, I can't rest,' she said. 'All I ask is that they reunite me again with my daughter.'
3 Community organizer, Ruth Beltran rallys a crowd while Carlos Yuniel Valle, husband of Heidy Sanchez stands with his young daughter and supporters at a press conference established by the family and local social justice groups to protest the deportation of Heidy to Cuba by American immigration authorities.
David Decker/Shutterstock
The case underscores a sharp break in policy between the Trump and Biden administrations.
Under Biden, ICE officials were instructed to consider the impact of enforcement action on families.
Trump rescinded that guidance, which had prioritized the deportations of serious criminals. Instead, Trump broadened the scope of enforcement, including targeting migrants like Sanchez with standing deportation orders.
Sanchez, who said she had no criminal record, is now just a few hundred miles from her daughter in Florida but a world apart.
Worsening shortages of food, fuel and medicine on the communist-run island, just 90 miles (145 km) off Key West, have made life unbearable for many Cubans.
The crisis has spurred a record-breaking exodus from the island of over 1 million people, or upwards of 10% off the population, a predicament Cuba blames on U.S. sanctions that contribute to strangling an already inefficient state-run economy.
Sanchez said she now faced the 'impossible' decision to remain apart from her infant daughter or bringing her to crisis-racked Cuba.
'Everybody knows the situation here,' she said.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Trump shows he called Newsom during LA riots as California gov claims there wasn't ‘even a voicemail'
Trump shows he called Newsom during LA riots as California gov claims there wasn't ‘even a voicemail'

New York Post

time37 minutes ago

  • New York Post

Trump shows he called Newsom during LA riots as California gov claims there wasn't ‘even a voicemail'

President Donald Trump hit back at Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's claims that the president did not recently call him, telling Fox News he spoke to the governor for about 16 minutes on Saturday. Trump told Fox News Tuesday while traveling to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, that Newsom did not pick up his first call over the weekend, but that he picked up the second call and the pair spoke for about 16 minutes on Saturday. 'I told him to, essentially, 'Get his ass in gear,' and stop the riots, which were out of control,' Trump said Tuesday. 'More than anything else, this shows what a liar he is – said I never called.' Trump provided a screenshot of the phone call dated June 7 at 1:23 a.m. White House director of communications Steven Cheung added in comment to Fox Digital Tuesday afternoon: 'The President called Gavin Newsom to tell him to get his ass in gear. The Governor has clearly decided to disgustingly side with the violent rioters instead of protecting Californians. The only liar here is Newsom who continues to fail his state as he prioritizes doing interviews with leftist media to gaslight the public instead of helping his state.' 4 US President Donald Trump speaks at Fort Bragg to celebrate the US Army's 250th anniversary at Pike Field at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, USA, 10 June 2025. STAN GILLILAND/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Earlier Tuesday, Trump held an event addressing wildfire response and prevention from the Oval Office, where he fielded a handful of questions from the media regarding the ongoing anti-ICE riots in Los Angles, telling a reporter he spoke to Newsom 'a day ago.' 'A day ago. I called him up to tell him (he's) got to do a better job. He's done a bad job,' Trump said. In a response post on X, Newsom claimed Trump did not call him or leave a voicemail in the past day. 4 Trump announced Saturday that he was deploying 2,000 National Guard troops to help quell the violence. Toby Canham for NY Post 'There was no call. Not even a voicemail. Americans should be alarmed that a President deploying Marines onto our streets doesn't even know who he's talking to,' Newsom posted to X Tuesday afternoon, accompanied by video of Trump in the Oval Office. 'This call is from 3 days ago,' the governor's press office added on X following the White House's pushback on Newsom's claim that Trump did not call. Newsom's office added in an email to Fox News Digital Tuesday that: 'The Governor's comment is clearly in regards to the President's comment this morning of 'a day ago,'' adding that Newsom had already confirmed his Saturday phone call in a media interview on Sunday. 4 Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during an address on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. AP Newsom spokesperson Izzy Gardon added in a comment to the Sacramento Bee Tuesday: 'I just personally looked through the governor's phone. No missed call. No voicemail. Nothing. The last time they spoke was Friday when the governor called him.' Los Angeles descended into violent riots Friday when federal immigration officials converged on the city to carry out raids targeting illegal immigrants. Local leaders such as Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Newsom, however, quickly denounced the raids in public statements while offering words of support for illegal immigrants in the state. Protests over the raids soon devolved into violence as rioters targeted and launched attacks on federal law enforcement officials. 4 Serious disorder takes place in downtown Los Angeles hundredsof law enforcement are deployed as are National Guard. Toby Canham for NY Post Trump announced Saturday that he was deploying 2,000 National Guard troops to help quell the violence. The Trump administration also deployed hundreds of U.S. Marines to respond to anti-immigration chaos on Monday evening as the violence continued. 'If I didn't 'SEND IN THE TROOPS' to Los Angeles the last three nights, that once beautiful and great City would be burning to the ground right now,' Trump posted to Truth Social on Tuesday morning.

Hegseth in Angry Clashes Over Eye-Watering Bill for L.A. Troops
Hegseth in Angry Clashes Over Eye-Watering Bill for L.A. Troops

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Hegseth in Angry Clashes Over Eye-Watering Bill for L.A. Troops

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fiercely defended deploying Marines and the National Guard to Los Angeles, a move that the Department of Defense revealed would cost an estimated $134 million. The Pentagon chief appeared on Capitol Hill on Tuesday to testify before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, where he got into heated exchanges with multiple Democrats. 'In Los Angeles, we believe ICE, which is a federal law enforcement agency, has the right to safely conduct operations in any state and any jurisdiction in the country,' Hegseth declared. His comments came as he was being pressed by ranking member Betty McCollum about the cost of the deployment. During their testy exchange, Hegseth refused to answer how much the mobilization would cost, but it was later revealed in the hearing that the deployment would cost an estimated $134 million, including travel, housing, and food. McCollum blasted the president's decision to deploy 700 Marines and some 4,000 National Guard troops as premature and escalatory. She argued that local law enforcement and the governor calling in the National Guard in her home state of Minnesota in 2020 over the protests over George Floyd's death were able to handle the situation, and the decision to mobilize the Marines put them in a deeply unfair position. The congresswoman asked Hegseth to reveal the cost of the deployment and how it would affect the budget, as well as what training would not take place because of it, but Hegseth would not answer the question directly. The defense secretary instead fired back that in 2020, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz 'abandoned a police precinct and allowed it to be burned to the ground.' He also claimed the National Guard was called in too late. 'President Trump recognizes a situation like that improperly handled by a governor, like it was by Governor Walz, if it gets out of control, is a bad situation for the citizens of any location,' Hegseth claimed. He also declared ICE should be able to operate in any jurisdiction in the country and blasted the previous administration for illegal border crossings. McCollum tried to cut in and point out that she had asked a budget question, but Hegseth kept going. 'We believe ICE agents should be allowed to be safe in doing their operations, and we have deployed National Guard and the Marines to protect them in the execution of their duties,' he insisted. 'We ought to be able to enforce immigration law in this country, unlike what Governor Waltz did in 2020.' Hegseth also claimed the police chief said she was overwhelmed, 'so we helped.' However, the Los Angeles Police Chief called the deployment a 'significant logistical and operational challenge.' As Hegseth continued to evade answering, even the Republican chairman tried to get him to answer the budget question. 'Thankfully, unlike the previous administration, we got a 13 percent increase in our defense budget, and we will have the capability to cover down on contingencies,' the defense secretary claimed. Hegseth called it important to maintain law and order in a major American city, leaving the door open to future domestic military activity. He also said all the units were fully trained. McCollum was not the only Democrat who grilled Hegseth over the deployment. Rep. Pete Aguilar noted images of the troops sleeping on floors and not being provided food or water by the Defense Department, and asked why they were not prepared with basic necessities. On Monday, California Governor Newsom said only 300 of the mobilized National Guard troops were being utilized and those deployed were not provided food or water. 'The commanders and troops in the field are very well prepared, sir,' Hegseth insisted. 'They responded incredibly rapidly to a deteriorating situation with equipment and capabilities.' The defense secretary then noted that he himself had been in a unit 'holding riot shields outside the White House during the chaos of the summer of 2020, I know what it's like to be immediately deployed into a situation like that.' 'There are moments where you make do the best you can temporarily,' Hegseth said. 'But we are ensuring they're housed, fed, with water capabilities in real time from my office because I care that much about the California guard, and the Marines and the men and women who are supporting our ICE agents on the ground.' Aguilar said that was not the case on the ground, and he should look into it, but Hegseth said that was a 'disingenuous attack.' 'I'm not going to take the fact that we don't care about the troops,' he said, pointing his finger at the congressman. 'Nobody cares more about the troops at the top than this secretary and the chairman and our department.' Hegseth said the deployment would last 60 days. He also denied that money for the operation would come from programs that affect military families. While Hegseth blasted Newsom and accused him of failing to 'protect his people,' the governor has sued the Trump administration over what he has called the illegal deployment of troops to Los Angeles, as he did not request the National Guard be called in. It is the first time since 1965 that a president called National Guard troops to respond to civil unrest without the governor's official request for assistance, in a move experts have called unprecedented. Federal troops are also prohibited from using military force against civilians in normal law enforcement, with the rare exception under the Insurrection Act. However, the president has not invoked the Insurrection Act. The president said on Tuesday, 'If there's an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it.' But that did not stop the defense secretary from defending the move. 'You and I both know that President Trump has all the authorities necessary,' Hegseth told Aguilar.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka sues Alina Habba over trespassing arrest at ICE facility
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka sues Alina Habba over trespassing arrest at ICE facility

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka sues Alina Habba over trespassing arrest at ICE facility

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka filed a lawsuit against the US Attorney for New Jersey on Tuesday over his arrest last month while protesting outside an ICE detention facility in his city. Baraka accused interim head attorney Alina Habba, who is also a personal lawyer of President Trump, of 'malicious prosecution' and violating his Fourth Amendment rights following the May 9 arrest. 'Defendant Habba issued the defamatory statement and authorized the false arrest of Mayor Baraka despite clear evidence that Mayor Baraka had not committed the petty offense of 'defiant trespass,'' the lawsuit stated. 'In authorizing and/or directing the arrest of Mayor Baraka without proper legal grounds, Defendant Habba was acting for political reasons and fulfilling her stated goal of 'turning New Jersey red' by instigating and/or authorizing the false arrest of Mayor Baraka, a Democrat,' the suit added. The trespassing charge against Baraka was later dismissed. Habba, however, appeared unfazed by the lawsuit and mocked the New Jersey Democrat. 'My advice to the mayor — feel free to join me in prioritizing violent crime and public safety. Far better use of time for the great citizens of New Jersey,' she wrote on X. Baraka was taken into custody at the Delaney Hall Detention Facility and charged with trespassing on May 9 while protesting the ICE facility that he had vowed to shut down. The charge was dismissed just 10 days later, prompting US Magistrate Judge André Espinosa to slam the ordeal as 'hasty' and 'worrisome.' 'The apparent rush in this case culminating today in the embarrassing retraction of charges suggests a failure to adequately investigate, to carefully gather facts, and to carefully consider the implications of your actions before wielding your immense power,' Espinosa slammed Haba and the DOJ. Along with Habba, Baraka's suit also names Ricky Patel, a supervising agent with Homeland Security who led the arrest at Delaney Hall. Habba claimed Baraka 'committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself from the ICE detention in Newark.' The mayor, however, alleges that he complied with the order to leave before agents came outside the gate and took him into custody. Baraka also alleges that he was allowed inside the center by the GEO Group, the private company running the private prison, to calm the protesters demonstrating the jail's use as a migrant detention facility. The Democrat also claims the agents violently pulled his arms and arrested him 'without probable cause,' according to the lawsuit. Baraka announced the lawsuit on the same day early in-person voting began in the Garden State, where the gubernatorial hopeful is one of six candidates running for the Democratic nomination. Baraka wasn't the only New Jersey lawmaker to find himself in hot water with the Justice Department over the demonstration at Delaney Hall. The DOJ has charged Rep. La Monica McIver (D-NJ) with assaulting, resisting and impeding law enforcement officials during the protest. Investigators say cameras captured McIver's actions during the melee that she assaulted the federal officers and tried to stop them from arresting Baraka. She faces up to eight years in prison if convicted. McIver, who has represented New Jersey's 10th Congressional District since last September, slammed the charges as 'purely political' and blamed ICE agents for the chaotic confrontation. The Trump administration has also sued several New Jersey cities, including Newark, over so-called sanctuary policies.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store