A Cuban resident in the United States recently published a short video after arriving in the country from Cuba, and his words have sparked debate on social media.
"Nothing is happening here at the airport. They are not taking away any residency; don’t be misled by the rumors on social media, everything is nice, everything is perfect. Go spend your vacation with your family. I just arrived. I wish you all an excellent day. Blessings," the man said in the video.
His testimony was shared and commented on by hundreds of users. Some thanked him for the message and claimed to have had similar experiences upon returning from the island: “I just arrived too and they didn’t ask us anything, only if I had anything to declare”; “They didn’t ask me anything either, I just looked at the camera and that was it”; “I arrived a week ago and everything was perfect.”
Other users, on the other hand, questioned the video's content, suggesting that not all experiences are the same: "It didn't happen to you, but not everyone is as lucky"; "I was held for several hours and warned that if I returned to Cuba, I could lose my residency"; "If you have a criminal record, they'll take it away. But if not, nothing happens."
There were also those who criticized the tone of the message, accusing the video’s author of downplaying the political context of the island: “They come fleeing supposedly from a dictatorship and return as if nothing happened”; “Another promoter of tourism for the dictatorship”; “Don’t waste money supporting the regime, bring your relatives and take them out of Cuba.”
In recent months, several legal residents in the U.S. have shared their experiences on social media upon returning from Cuba, many of which were uneventful. In May, a woman recounted that everything was normal and urged others not to pay attention to alarmist comments on TikTok.
In March, another resident explained that she was taken to the "little room" as part of a routine check, but she was able to continue without difficulties. More recently, a Cuban mother stated that she was not questioned and that her return was completely smooth.
These accounts, although diverse, converge on one point: each experience can vary depending on the immigration officer, the traveler's history, or even the timing of the journey. As long as there are no official measures limiting returns from Cuba, many choose to document their experiences to guide others in similar situations.
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