"I told my mom: don’t worry, that in a year and a day they'll give me residency, and I’ll be there as soon as I have it... and in September, it will be three years, and I haven’t been able to go to Cuba": With these words, the Cuban Daiana Díaz, who lives in the United States, shared an experience on TikTok that has deeply touched thousands of people.
His testimony is not a complaint or a denunciation, but a sincere expression of anguish over a promise he has been unable to fulfill. He emigrated thinking he would soon be back to embrace his sick mother, but the wait has stretched on much longer than he imagined.
“I really have a sick mother, I am an only child and I need to go to Cuba. It's not for partying or having fun, it's because I truly need to,” confessed @daianadiaz2107 in a video that has already generated thousands of reactions. With composure and emotion, she recounted how the hope for a quick immigration process faded over time. “We came, really, deceived. I am more than sure that this has happened to more than one of us. We thought this would take a year and a day, and then we would be able to go back.”
His situation is doubly difficult: not only because of the distance, but also due to the responsibility. He explained that his father, who works for the CAN company in Cuba, has gone months without pay because farms have closed due to a lack of food. “I am their support,” he said. “And sometimes at work I get overwhelmed and think, ‘I wish I could buy a ticket and leave now,’ but what if they leave me in Cuba? How would my parents survive?”
The video sparked an avalanche of comments from other emigrants who felt understood. Many people shared that they too had promised to return soon but had been unable to do so for three, five, or more years. Several recounted how their parents passed away without them being able to be there, and others expressed the fear of returning to the island only to face complications in reentering the United States. "I also told my mom that, and she died without me being able to hug her," wrote one follower. Another commented, "I've been away for four years and haven't been able to see my son, and it breaks my heart."
However, some people criticized her for publicly expressing her sadness. In response, Daiana published a second video, maintaining the same calm and honest tone, where she explained why she decided to share her story. “It was something I wanted to address because it was my reality, what I told my mom and what I haven’t been able to fulfill. And it hurts, it really hurts.” She clarified that she never intended to complain but rather to give voice to something that many people also feel. “We all have different stories to tell; some share them, others don’t, but in the end, it’s a struggle.”
In that second video, she also provided more details about her mother's health, who suffers from psychiatric issues. “She didn’t want me to leave because I am her only daughter, and her two granddaughters were also going away. The fear of her being admitted to a psychiatric facility, the fear of who will support her if she falls ill... because a person who is mentally unwell is despised by everyone.”
This testimony adds to other moments that Daiana has previously shared on social media. In December 2024, she firmly defended her decision to continue financially supporting her parents, despite not yet having furniture in her home: “The priority is that my parents have food,” she stated at that time. She has also spoken about the nostalgia for customs like sharing coffee with neighbors, about the fear of discrimination in her job in Missouri, and about how she stretches her budget in thrift stores without losing her joy.
In each of those episodes, Daiana has maintained a consistent line: sincerity, resilience, and a deep connection with her family in Cuba. "Continuing to help my parents is the most important thing," she has said on more than one occasion. In another one of her most viral videos, she left a defining phrase: "I came with two beach chairs, and to this day I am here standing, with a lot of strength to keep going."
Her story, like so many others, reflects the emotional toll of emigration. She does not seek compassion nor intends to generalize. She simply shares what she experienced. In her words, there is pain, but also strength. And for that reason, so many have found themselves reflected in her.
Frequently asked questions about emigration and the emotional challenges faced by Cubans in the U.S.
Why has Daiana Díaz been unable to return to Cuba despite her intentions?
Daiana Díaz has been unable to return to Cuba due to delays in the immigration process to obtain residency in the United States. Although she initially thought this procedure would be quick, the reality has been different, extending for almost three years now.
How does family separation emotionally affect Cuban emigrants?
The separation from family has a significant emotional impact on Cuban emigrants, who experience feelings of nostalgia, sadness, and anxiety. The pain of not being able to see their loved ones can be overwhelming, as reflected in the stories shared by many, like Daiana, who are far from their families.
What strategies do Cuban emigrants use to cope with the distance from their families?
To cope with the distance, many Cuban emigrants find solace in their new homes and families abroad. The emotional support from their children and the hope for a better future become their main sources of strength, despite the pain and nostalgia they feel from being away from their loved ones in Cuba.
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