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2w ago

Venezuelan Toddler Reunited with Mother After Yearlong Separation Under U.S. Immigration Policy

The two-year-old, left in U.S. custody while her parents were deported, arrived in Caracas and was welcomed by Venezuelan officials, highlighting political tensions and family separation practices.

Pro-government supporters hold up signs with the image of Maikelys Espinoza, a 2-year-old in US custody whose parents were deported separately, at a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
A screen shows an image of Maikelys Espinoza, a 2-year-old in US custody whose parents were deported separately, after a pro-government May Day rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
Venezuelan First lady Cilia Flores (R) welcomed home a toddler whose Venezuelan parents were deported from the United States without her
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Overview

  • Maikelys Espinoza Bernal, a two-year-old U.S. citizen, was reunited with her mother, Yorely Bernal, in Caracas after being separated from her parents at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2024.
  • The toddler had been in the care of the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement for a year while her parents were detained and later deported under expedited immigration policies.
  • Venezuelan First Lady Cilia Flores and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello greeted the child at the airport, framing her return as a symbolic victory for Venezuela amidst strained U.S.-Venezuela relations.
  • U.S. authorities allege the parents have ties to criminal activities, including claims that the father, Maiker Espinoza, is a lieutenant in the Tren de Aragua gang, which the family denies.
  • The case underscores broader concerns over the treatment of U.S. citizen minors in immigration enforcement and the use of controversial policies like the Alien Enemies Act.