Activist Carlos Eduardo Espina sparked a debate on social media after sharing a video from Miami airport in which he questions why, amidst reports of protests and crisis in Cuba, flights to the island continue to be full of passengers.
“This is for the Cubans,” he begins saying in the video posted on his social media. While he shows a room full of people waiting to fly to Holguín on American Airlines, Espina raises a question that, as he claims, he cannot comprehend.
"I watch the news and it’s supposed that there are many protests and demonstrations against the government in Cuba right now, people are burning things. But then I come here to Miami airport and see people traveling to Cuba," he comments.
The activist clarifies that he is not judging those who travel, but truly wishes to understand the reasons. “I am not judging people; I don’t know. I’m really asking,” he adds, before pointing out that the flight he was observing seemed to be full of passengers.
"It is supposed that Cuba is in a bad situation, that one cannot return, and yet there is a flight packed," he insists in the video, recorded while waiting to board another flight to Houston.
Espina's words triggered a flood of comments from Cubans both on and off the island, many of whom offered similar explanations: the significance of family for emigrants.
Several users pointed out that, despite the economic crisis, blackouts, and the shortage of food and medicine, many Cubans living abroad travel to the island primarily to see their loved ones and to bring assistance.
"For us, family comes above any situation. Even when the country is in bad shape, one returns to see their loved ones," commented an internet user.
Others insisted that many of these trips are not for tourism purposes but are driven by the need to support family members who remain on the island.
"Those suitcases are packed with food, medicine, and basic necessities that are not available in Cuba," wrote another user, referring to the baggage typically carried by travelers from the United States.
Some also highlighted the strong emotional connection that many Cubans maintain with their homeland, even after emigrating.
"The love for family and for the land where we were born is not forgotten," remarked another person in the comments.
There were also those who invited Espina himself to visit Cuba and talk to ordinary people to better understand the motivations of those who continue to travel to the island despite the difficult situation.
In the midst of the debate, one point was repeatedly emphasized in the comments: for many exiled Cubans, returning to the island does not mean ignoring the crisis, but rather attempting to alleviate it, even if only temporarily, for those they left behind.
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