Less than a month after taking to downtown Tampa to call for her return, activists spent Mother’s Day continuing to support Heidy Sánchez.
As previously reported, the mother of a now-17-month-old was deported to Cuba last month after going into a routine ICE appointment. Sánchez’s child now has to communicate with child, Kailyn, over video calls each night according to CNN.
The cable news network said in 2019, Sánchez crossed into the U.S. from Mexico where she was to wait for asylum under the Trump administration’s “Remain in Mexico” protocol. Sánchez’s attorney said that fear of Mexican cartels prevented her client from making her appointment.
“After nine months in immigration custody, she was released and able to join her family in Tampa,” the report said, adding that Sánchez was studying to become a nursing assistant.
Last Sunday, as rain fell in Ybor City, Sánchez’s husband Carlos huddled under cover at Centennial Park with their Kailyn and activists all calling for mom’s return.
The Sánchez’s plight has caught the attention of U.S. Rep Kathy Castor, who met with Carlos early this month.
“The Trump Administration is ripping families apart for political games,” Castor wrote on social media. “We are pursuing every action to reunite this family and unfortunately, are still waiting for a response from the White House to explain their illegal actions.”
