A Cuban identified on TikTok as Jose Miguel Real (@jose.miguel.real21) became a trend by posting a video where he shows the house and car he has in Cuba, accompanied by the text: "That I-220A went crazy and went to Cuba."
The 43-second clip was published on May 12 and generated a flood of reactions among his followers, who immediately asked him what his formula was for achieving it.
The protagonist's response left no room for doubt: "5 years 2 jobs, 0 parties, 0 bills, 0 letters."
In summary, five years of working double shifts in the United States, without unnecessary expenses or debts, allowed him to build or acquire what he showcases in the video.
The detail that generated the most debate is the immigration status he himself refers to: the I-220A, a supervised release order issued by U.S. immigration authorities that allows a person to remain temporarily in the country while their case is pending resolution.
This document does not constitute permanent residency, does not grant work permission on its own, and does not guarantee an automatic path to a green card.
More importantly: traveling voluntarily to Cuba with an active I-220A may weaken or invalidate a pending asylum application, as authorities may interpret it as a lack of genuine fear of persecution, in addition to complicating reentry into the U.S.
This case is not the first to generate controversy within the Cuban community on social media. In October 2025, another Cuban with I-220A returned to the island with a red Toyota and a container full of belongings, accompanied by the viral text "Pillo soy yo que soy I-220A."
In January 2026, the user @yandrydz showed his home with solar panels and two cars in Cuba and stated that he did not intend to return to the U.S., arguing that "there is no freedom of expression in Cuba, but there is no freedom of time in the United States."
On May 10, just two days before the video of Jose Miguel Real, another Cuban showed off a Toyota Corolla and solar panels in Cuba in a clip that surpassed 213,400 views.
The pattern repeats: Cubans who worked hard in the U.S., saved for years, and built or purchased properties on the island, only to showcase them on social media, eliciting mixed reactions of admiration, skepticism, and criticism.
The phenomenon reflects the complex relationship of the Cuban diaspora with their country of origin, where many continue to invest despite the economic crisis, blackouts, and shortages that define daily life under the dictatorship.
What the video does not show is the legal risk involved in returning: in 2025, immigration courts reopened closed cases of Cubans with I-220A, warning about possible automatic deportation orders for those who had voluntarily traveled to Cuba.
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