A Cuban identified as Lázaro Gómez posted a video on TikTok in which he claims to have lived better during the three months he spent in Nicaragua than in the two years he has been in the United States, challenging the narrative of the "American Dream" that he says he was sold before emigrating.
In the video, published on June 16, Gómez compares his experience in Matagalpa with the reality he found in Miami and does not hesitate to label as a deception what they promised him about life in the U.S.
"In the three months I lived in Nicaragua, I lived better than here, better than here in the United States. In the two years I’ve been here..." he states in the clip, which has garnered over 390,000 views and more than 6,100 shares.
One of their most concrete arguments relates to access to basic services: "There, if I had a toothache, I'd get it treated right away and be ready to work, here it’s a hassle for everything."
Gómez also directs a pointed critique at the Cubans he observes in Miami, describing them as trapped in a cycle of consumption financed by credit: "Deceived like all these Cubans, full of chains, full of cars, full of everything, full of debt."
In contrast to that model, he highlights what he achieved in Nicaragua through his own effort: "In three months, I set up my little business, my sales, you understand? And here, what debt, with the banks, asking for this, asking for that."
His conclusion is stark: "Everything here is a lie, I lived better in Nicaragua, they made me come here."
Gómez's testimony reflects a broader reality. Nicaragua became a massive migration route for Cubans starting in November 2021, when the regime of Daniel Ortega lifted the visa requirement for citizens from the island. Between 2021 and 2024, over 400,000 Cubans utilized that corridor to reach the U.S.
However, a significant number chose to remain in Nicaraguan territory. Several Cubans decided not to return to Cuba and primarily settled in Managua, where they started food and informal trade businesses, drawn by the low cost of living and the opportunity to work independently.
The data partly supports Gómez's perception: according to figures from Numbeo in mid-2025, the cost of living in Nicaragua is approximately 50% cheaper than in the U.S., and food can be up to 79% more affordable.
In Miami, the financial pressure on newly arrived migrants is significant. The rent for a one-bedroom apartment ranges from $1,600 to $3,200 per month, and the average household income in the city is around $66,000 annually, well below the estimated $100,000 needed to live comfortably.
The route used by Gómez and hundreds of thousands of Cubans was definitively closed on February 8, 2026, when Nicaragua eliminated visa-free travel for Cuban citizens under the pressure of U.S. sanctions.
"I live better in Nicaragua, what I achieve through my sacrifice is what I achieve myself," Gómez concludes in the video, summarizing a frustration that resonates among many Cuban migrants who arrived in the U.S. with expectations very different from the reality they encountered.
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