A Cuban mother living in the United States has sparked intense debate on social media after posting a video on TikTok in which she firmly rejects the labeling of her decision to emigrate and leave her children in Cuba as "abandonment."
In the video, visibly emotional, the woman responds to those who claim that the children of emigrants "suffer abandonment." "I won't accept you saying that my children suffer abandonment. Abandonment is what a child experiences when their father comes here and forgets about them. That does exist, but there are many here on their knees, crying and asking God to give us work so we can provide food and a dignified life for our children," she asserts.
The Cuban explains that her decision to remain in the United States, even under difficult conditions, is driven by a clear goal: to create a better future for her children. “That’s not called abandonment, it’s called sacrifice. I’m here paving the way so that when they arrive, they have everything,” she emphasizes.
According to her account, her children remain in Cuba under the care of their family. She insists that, even though she sometimes barely has enough money for herself, she prioritizes sending resources to the Island. “I don’t care if I don’t make it to the end of the pay period. I’ll get paid, and I’ll start doing Uber or whatever. For me, the phrase ‘I don’t have’ doesn’t exist when it comes to my children,” she asserts.
The mother also compared the situation to the reality faced by many families in Cuba. "Children suffer trauma when they wake up in a country where there’s nothing to eat for breakfast, when they have to wear broken shoes or don’t have any shoes at all. That really hurts," she stated, referring to the deep economic crisis affecting the population.
In one of the most touching moments of the video, she revealed that she has not seen her children in person for almost 12 years. “Do you think I want to be like this? I am alone in this country, but my goal is to bring them out of there. The only way is to endure here until I have my papers and can have them with me,” she explained.
The testimony has been widely discussed on social media, where many users have supported their stance and shared similar experiences. The migration driven by the crisis in Cuba has separated thousands of families in recent years, leaving parents facing the pain of distance while trying to provide support from abroad.
"First, study the concepts of words; sacrifice is not the same as abandonment," concludes the Cuban in her message, which has reignited the debate on the human cost of migration and the challenging reality faced by those who choose to leave in order to support their families.
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