The young Cuban Oscar Luis Acosta arrived solo in Montevideo, Uruguay, and two days after being in the country, he recorded a video from the streets of the capital with a message full of determination that resonated within the Cuban diaspora.
"Today is my second day in Montevideo. Alone, I came from Cuba by myself. I'm not afraid of anything. I am a millionaire in my mind," Oscar declared in front of the camera.
In the clip, he acknowledges that the beginning is tough, but he does not hide his conviction that he will move forward even though he does not yet have the results he desires.
"I'm starting from the bottom. Look at me here. No matter what people say, I am going to achieve all my dreams and goals, walking with God."
His message was also a direct greeting to those he left behind on the island: "To the people of Cuba, to those who love me and those who follow me, this is just the beginning. I am learning from everything."
Oscar closed the video with a phrase that sums up his attitude towards the start of this stage of life, away from his loved ones and everything that supported him.
"It doesn't matter where you are; the only thing that separates you from your goals is your mindset and your faith, your desire to move forward, your discipline. And nothing, here we are making it happen."
At the end of the clip, he proudly showed his roots: "I have an undeniably Cuban look, but I'm very proud of Cuba. Now I'm here and I'm going to make it big."
The video generated a wave of comments from family, friends, and followers who wished him success and offered advice for immigrant life.
One of them wrote to him: "Make the most of your youth, be smart, work hard because that's what leads to achievements. When you're outside your country, surround yourself with people who can enrich you, don't waste time on trivial matters, learn from the country you're in and get to work. Beginnings are tough, but it will be worth it."
Another comment, reflecting the affection of those who know him, stated: "You are going to succeed. You are a person with very good feelings, honest and humble, who has grown up in a family with strong values. You are going to succeed and achieve your goals because you are hardworking and perseverant."
Oscar's case is part of a migration phenomenon of historic proportions.
In 2025, more than 22,000 Cubans entered Uruguay, with a net balance of approximately 15,000 people, nearly three times the number recorded in 2024.
Montevideo concentrates 85% of asylum seekers in the country, and in 2025 about 13,852 Cubans received Uruguayan identity cards for the first time, five times more than other nationalities.
The trend continues in 2026, with nearly 2,000 Cubans arriving just between January and February.
Behind every story like Oscar's lies a reality that drives thousands of Cubans to leave the island. These 67 years of communist dictatorship have left the country shattered, aged, and deeply scarred by state repression, the economic crisis, blackouts, food shortages, and fuel scarcity. Emigrating has been the only option for millions of Cubans.
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