Heartbreaking, tears, hugs: He was able to embrace his family in Cuba again after 10 years away from the island



An emotional video on TikTok depicts a man reuniting with his family in Cuba after 10 years. The footage highlights the family separations that many Cubans face due to migration restrictions.

Reunion of CubansPhoto © @yulieturrutia / TikTok

An emotional video shared on TikTok by the user @yulieturrutia has touched thousands of Cubans both on the island and abroad. The footage captures the moment when her husband reunites with his family after 10 long years of being unable to embrace them.

The clip, filmed in a humble home with narrow hallways and worn walls, shows a man dressed in white embracing his loved ones, tears flowing as overwhelming emotions spill forth in cries, laughter, and kisses. “After 10 long years, my husband finally reunited with his family,” his partner wrote alongside the video, accompanied by emotional and crying emojis.

In the comments, hundreds of users expressed their empathy and sadness for similar stories.

"I'm watching the video and it's been 11 and a half years since I last hugged my parents," wrote a user.

"I’m almost celebrating 10 years longing for this moment," commented another person, reflecting the shared pain of family separation experienced by thousands of Cubans.

Another user lamented the immigration obstacles that hinder reunions: “How hard... 10 years. I, with this I-220A and all these laws, have to keep waiting. Congratulations,” they expressed.

The video has sparked a wave of reactions and reflections on the reality of Cuban emigration, characterized by distance, nostalgia, and the hope of reuniting with loved ones.

In a country where more and more people leave every day in search of a better future, scenes like this are repeated over and over again, reminding us of the heavy emotional toll paid by families separated by borders and policies that keep them apart.

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Yare Grau

Originally from Cuba, but living in Spain. I studied Social Communication at the University of Havana and later graduated in Audiovisual Communication from the University of Valencia. I am currently part of the CiberCuba team as an editor in the Entertainment section.