A Cuban resident abroad for more than three decades sparked a debate on social media with a video posted on TikTok in which she appeals for "sanity" from both Cuban emigrants and their families on the island regarding the issue of remittances.
Lourdes, a content creator under the concept "Psychological Compass" on the account @lourdesmcr, recorded nearly seven minutes of reflection in which she argues that the Cuban emigrant "is not a money-printing machine, nor an NGO, nor a social security institute."
The trigger was personal: Lourdes saw a video on Facebook where a young Cuban expressed her frustrations about the constant and tireless demands from her family on the island. Lourdes publicly defended her in the comments and was met with a flood of criticism. "They came at me in a pack and told me all sorts of terrible things that would happen to me," she recounted in the clip.
Rather than retracting her statement, the creator elaborated on her position in more detail. She argues that economic responsibility among adults is "downward"—towards children, not towards elderly relatives who had years to plan for their own future—although she acknowledges that Cuba's structural crisis, characterized by minimum wages and widespread scarcity, compels some dependence on the family member who emigrated.
However, that reality does not justify, according to Lourdes, the excessive demands. "Those who are outside have to work very hard and earn a salary; they do not have the funds that the social security institute of a country has," she warned.
His main message is that emigrants should save for their own old age and for unexpected events such as accidents, illnesses, or periods of unemployment. "If you send everything back to Cuba, not only do you end up with no savings for unforeseen circumstances, but you can't even afford the luxury of taking a vacation or treating yourself," he pointed out.
He also emphasized the importance of rest: "The engine of all this help is oneself, and if that engine burns out, if you get sick, if you fall, God forbid, what will happen? If it all ends, both for you and for them."
At the end of the video, Lourdes delivered a message in two directions: "Send money to your family; there’s nothing more beautiful than being able to help when you can, but have the prudence to also save for your old age." She added: "To the family in Cuba, a call for reason as well, for consideration."
The video adds to a trend that has been recurring throughout 2026, with numerous Cuban emigrants in the United States and Spain sharing similar testimonies. At the end of August, Yeisla Colina recorded a clip while working as a delivery person in the rain and announced that she would cut off support to her family: "I'm already off," she said in a video that garnered over 165,000 views. In May, a Cuban in Florida identified as D'yeny denounced that family and acquaintances "shamelessly ask," and in June a Cuban in Spain exploded demanding that the effort to send anything be appreciated.
"I remain steadfast in my position and support anyone who sets boundaries and does not allow themselves to be exploited," concluded Lourdes, who has been living outside of Cuba for over thirty years.
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