A Cuban deported from the United States showcases his forced return to the island in a brief video posted from his mother's Facebook profile, Marlendys Sardiña Silva, where he is seen cooking with charcoal during lunchtime as part of his new everyday life.
"Listen up, gentlemen, here's another little video about surviving deportation from the United States in Cuba. Lunchtime, it's lunchtime, cooking with charcoal here," says the young man in the 26-second recording.
He explains that he is posting from his mom's account "because I don't have a phone yet," a phrase that summarizes the material hardship many deported Cubans face upon their return.
The video condenses into a single shot the dual crisis faced by those who are returned to the island: that of the deportee who arrives with nothing, and that of the country to which they arrive, which also has nothing to offer.
The comments from other Cubans reflect that same reality. "Carbón, you are fortunate. There are thousands who can't even buy carbón because it is worth as if it were gold," wrote a user.
Another one added, "You're still okay; I'm cooking with firewood." And a third one tried to comfort the young man with a different perspective: "You don’t have a phone, but you have the greatest thing: your mom. What more do you want? You will have it; it’s just a matter of time."
Not all the messages were supportive. Some users reminded her of the political context: "Thank the Cubans who voted for Trump," wrote one.
Another pointed out: "The same one who deported you is responsible for everything the Cuban people are experiencing."
The deportations of Cubans from the United States have intensified since Donald Trump returned to the presidency. Between January and May 2026 alone, 612 Cubans were deported to the island in 18 air operations.
The first flight of the year, on February 9, transported 170 people, including Cubans with criminal records that the regime had not accepted in decades.
The Cuban regime accepted for the first time to receive deportees with a criminal history as part of a bilateral migration agreement with Washington.
At the same time, thousands of Cubans were deported to Mexico instead of Cuba, leaving them in a legal limbo without documents or resources, as documented by Human Rights Watch.
Those who return to the island arrive in a country in deep crisis: blackouts lasting up to 24 hours a day, shortages of fuel and food, and a devastated economy.
Some deportees have also reported being interrogated and threatened by State Security upon their arrival. Yoelsi Linares Reyes, deported on February 9, reported having been tortured in Villa Marista and threatened with 30 years in prison.
Other Cubans who have gone through the same process shared their ordeal after deportation, describing a return characterized by humiliation and uncertainty.
"It's very sad. Blessings, and I hope you can go out again," summarized one user in the comments of the video, expressing what many Cubans feel about a story that is happening more and more often.
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