“Here life is better”: Cuban who “self-deported” from the U.S. boasts about his “thermoelectric plant” and car in Cuba

A Cuban identified on TikTok as @yandrydz has sparked controversy on social media after posting a video in which he claims to have "self-deported" from the United States to return to live in Cuba, where—according to him—he enjoys a peaceful and worry-free life.

"I self-deported from the United States to Cuba on my own, but the difference was that I went to work during the two years I was there; I wasn't there to pay or to be a gogó," the young man states while showing his house equipped with solar panels and a modern car parked in front of the home.

In the video, the Cuban claims that he lives "relaxed" on the island, without an alarm clock or formal job, and encourages other emigrants to follow his example. “If it hurts you that I'm here relaxing without working and without a 5 AM alarm clock, brother, don’t complicate your life. Do the same thing I did: work, make sacrifices, and come here peacefully,” he says while showing the panels on the roof of his house.

However, instead of receiving support, the video was flooded with critical and sarcastic comments from Cubans who do not share his view on life in the country. Many users reminded him of the economic crisis, power outages, and the lack of basic services that the population faces.

"Did you bring a hospital with the doctors inside?" wrote a user, referring to the precariousness of the Cuban healthcare system. Another commented, "Nahhhh, just let me be here working and waking up at 5, thanks."

Others questioned his personal aspirations: "Were your dreams really that small, bro?" or "Was that your goal?" were some of the most repeated responses on TikTok.

In recent months, it has become common to see videos of Cubans claiming to have voluntarily returned from the United States or other countries, stating that in Cuba they can live "without stress."

However, most reactions tend to be disbelief or mockery, in a context where scarcity, blackouts, and low wages continue to define daily life on the island.

While some see these testimonies as an attempt to appear successful despite the return, others interpret them as part of a propaganda narrative that aims to downplay the crisis under the control of the Cuban regime.