A Cuban mother who documents her daily life on TikTok under the username @gelylaflaki published this week a two-minute video in which she answers the question her followers have been asking her since she started creating content: why hasn’t she left Cuba?
The creator openly acknowledges that the situation on the island is "extremely bad", but lists a series of concrete obstacles that prevent her from emigrating with her family.
The first and most decisive factor is economic. I don't have enough money to leave with my daughters and my husband," she explains. "I wouldn't want to go to a place that I don't know, just me with the girls, because who will take care of them?"
This is compounded by the gradual closure of migration routes. "You all know that Nicaragua closed the visa-free entry for Cubans and the few paths that existed to leave have been slowly closing," he points out. Nicaragua eliminated this benefit on February 8, 2026, removing one of the most utilized routes by Cubans to reach the United States via Managua, where tickets from Havana cost around 1,200 dollars.
The creator also admits that she never considered emigrating until the crisis worsened. "It never crossed my mind in the past to leave here unless it was to travel," she says, and acknowledges that she has no idea where to start or where to go.
Another factor holding her back is the family attachment, especially to her grandmother. She is terrified of the possibility of emigrating and not being able to return if something happens to her loved ones. She cites Cubans who have gone to Brazil and cannot come back until five years have passed, referencing the risk of losing their refugee status if they return to their home country before completing the immigration process. In the first half of 2025, Brazil received 19,419 asylum applications from Cubans, an increase of 60.8% compared to the same period last year.
His ideal scenario would be different from a definitive exodus. "I would rather leave for a work opportunity or something like that, for two years, one year, knowing that if anything happens, I can come back," he explains. He also wants to save not only for the trip but to establish himself in the new destination.
Despite everything, the creator does not rule out emigration. "The idea was to leave with the family, but not everything is as one wishes," she concludes, holding on to a hope that she describes as difficult: "I also have hope that something will happen, that this will improve for the better."
The testimony of @gelylaflaki reflects a reality that affects millions of Cubans. According to data from 2026, 93% of the population would leave the island if they could, and 89% live in extreme poverty. Between 2021 and 2025, Cuba lost more than a million residents, with an estimated annual outflow of between 250,000 and 350,000 people, while exit routes close one after another.
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