A Cuban-American woman who voted for Donald Trump now feels betrayed after her husband was deported despite the president initially promising he would "only deport criminals."
Alían Méndez Aguilar emigrated from Cuba to the U.S. in 2019. Although a deportation order was issued the following year, he was allowed to remain in the country because Cuba refused to accept his return. After a 90-day detention period, he was released under supervision, according to reporting by CiberCuba.
Aguilar married Liyian Páez, a Cuban American, and helped raise her son, who is paraplegic. The couple also welcomed a daughter together while living in North Miami, Florida. But in April, their family was devastated when the 28-year-old father was detained while attending a meeting with his wife to become a U.S. citizen.
"The lawyer hands me a yellow envelope with his belongings, and I'm like, 'what's going on? What's going on? Where's my husband?' She told me he had been detained," Páez told Univision.
Cuban mother and Republican voter feels “betrayed" by Trump after her husband is deported (in an Inter Miami CF jersey) — leaving her alone to care for paraplegic son and 3-year-old daughter, and struggling to keep her job without husband's primary household income… pic.twitter.com/0Y1PDoDovw
— Because Miami (@BecauseMiami) May 11, 2025
Aguilar told Univision, per a video circulating on X, deportation process was "awful" after he was moved through three detention facilities in Krome, Florida, Eloy, Arizona, and Alexandria, Louisiana, before he was flown to Cuba.
"You're cuffed at the feet, waist and hands," Aguilar shared.
Páez said she's struggling to care for her children and keep her job since losing her husband's income. She is also reaching out to senators and members of Congress for help bringing Aguilar back since the legal process could take five to 10 years.
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