A Cuban woman identified on TikTok as @yenyyenyyelreal touched thousands of followers after posting a video in which she explains the reasons that led her to request her voluntary departure from the United States, after living in the country for six years without being able to reunite with her daughter, who remains in Cuba.
"Good evening, my heart. Love, let me explain and provide some context, because perhaps you haven't been following me and haven't seen my previous videos. I’ve been in this country for six years, six years during which I came with a purpose: to get ahead and bring my daughter with me… but I didn’t succeed," the visibly emotional Cuban began.
In her testimony, the woman states that her greatest wish is to be by her daughter's side, and that after so much time abroad, she understood that "time is precious" and that nothing can replace the presence of a mother.
"I happily requested my voluntary exit, I repeat, gentlemen, look, I swear to you by the greatest thing, by my children, I am happy. I am happy… I leave happily, I am not sad. If I had wanted to stay, I could have stayed three more years, but I don’t want to. I prefer my time, to be by my daughter's side, not to lose another year," he expressed.
The Cuban woman, who claims not to regret her decision, reflected on the sacrifices that many parents make when emigrating, and how—despite providing material comforts for their children—nothing can replace the love and closeness of family.
“One thinks that the child lacks nothing because you buy things for them, but in the end, what they lack is you. They don’t want toys or food; they want you to be with them,” she said.
Yenny explained that her daughter is only 10 years old and that she feels she is still "in time to recover her childhood," to accompany her to school and share the most challenging years of her growth.
"I don’t want to exchange my daughter for this country, for a better life. In the end, you never really know what’s going to happen tomorrow,” he concluded.
The testimony has generated mixed reactions on social media: while many congratulate her for her bravery and for prioritizing family, others lament that she has to return to a country where opportunities are scarce and the economic situation remains critical.
This is not the first time that the Cuban has spoken about her self-deportation and her reasons for returning to the Island, a topic that has once again brought to light the high emotional cost of migration for thousands of Cuban families separated by borders and bureaucracy.
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