The deportation of Heidy Sanchez from the U.S. last week, which tore her from her 1-year-old U.S. citizen daughter, has ignited fresh criticism over family separations tied to Trump-era immigration policies. During a regular check-in with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Sanchez was informed she would be sent back to Cuba, leaving her child behind in the U.S. Despite being a breastfeeding mother, Sanchez claimed that no option was provided for her to take her daughter along.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has rejected Sanchez’s version of events, insisting that deported parents are given a choice to either take their children or appoint a guardian. However, immigrant advocates and lawmakers have expressed alarm, claiming that such practices violate due process and are especially harmful to families with mixed immigration status. Similar instances of children being deported with their parents have sparked widespread outrage, particularly in cases involving young children with health concerns.

Sanchez’s deportation highlights the tough approach of the Trump administration, which has prioritized broad immigration enforcement. Critics argue that such actions force parents into impossible decisions, caught between returning to their home countries or remaining apart from their children.

This incident starkly contrasts with the Biden administration’s approach, which seeks to balance immigration enforcement with family considerations. For now, Sanchez faces an uncertain future in Cuba, far from her daughter in Florida.