Related videos:
Exuan Guzmán, a 31-year-old Cuban from Santo Domingo in the Villa Clara province, posted a video on his YouTube channel showing the small apartment where he lives in Mexico City after being deported from the United States.
In the video titled "This is how I live after being deported," Exuan toured the modest second-floor apartment he shares with his younger sister, who is 23 years old, and who was already living in Mexico and welcomed him upon his arrival.
Among the positives, Exuan highlighted the reunion with his sister after seven years apart, as they had both left Cuba at different times and did not live in the same area of the island
At the beginning of the tour, the young man showcased what he calls "his mansion": a living-dining room that also serves as a kitchen, office, and video editing area, a small bathroom, and a shared bedroom.
"I still don't have a space for myself. I haven't found a space for myself," she admitted.
Exuan had been in Mexico for about a month when he recorded the video and acknowledges the emotional impact of the change.
"Honestly, it’s a tough blow to come from where I came from to get here, but I’ve experienced worse. In Cuba, it’s not like you can say that life is wonderful either," he said.
The young Cuban also highlighted the difference between arriving in Mexico from Cuba and doing so from the United States.
"When you come from Cuba to Mexico, everything seems amazing and you are delighted, but when you come from the United States, it hits you a bit harder and you don’t realize all the things you have there until you get here," she confessed.
Exuan also showcased common areas of the building, such as the rooftop where neighbors hang their clothes, and emphasizes the daily interactions with other Cubans, an element he believes has been key in his adaptation process.
“The Cuban is resilient and wherever he goes, he makes it happen,” he asserts in one of the more reflective moments of the video.
Throughout the video, the young man also shared details about his daily life in the neighborhood, where he encounters familiar elements, including the presence of "a little store" on every corner.
Exuan's testimony reflects a reality that affects thousands of Cubans.
Under the current Trump administration, the United States has deported approximately 6,000 Cubans to Mexico in the past year, according to documents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Most arrive in Tapachula, Chiapas, without documents or legal immigration status, facing a legal and social limbo.
Exuan's situation is different from most: he arrived in Mexico City because his sister was already living there, which provided him with immediate shelter and a support network.
Even so, their situation illustrates the material and emotional decline that the process entails.
Despite everything, the young man insists on rebuilding himself from scratch and sharing his experience unfiltered: "I'm just sharing my real process with you, no embellishments."
Aware that her story is not unique, she sends a message to those going through similar situations.
"If you are going through the same process, you are not alone. There are many of us experiencing the same thing. No matter what country you are from or to which country you have returned, we are all in this together," he warned.
“Definitely nothing is like it used to be, but this is where I am now and everything is taking shape and everything will be better. This is what I believe, this is what I want to believe,” he concludes.
Filed under: