American YouTuber Nick Shirley has released a video detailing his unsettling experience of being followed and cornered by Cuban intelligence agents within his first 24 hours in Havana. He had traveled there to document the dire humanitarian crisis resulting from decades of communist rule, as shared on his social media platforms.
Upon arrival with a journalism visa—one of the twelve legally recognized categories for entry—Shirley encountered immediate issues. His two GoPro cameras, Meta Glasses, and all microphones were confiscated by authorities, leaving him with only an iPhone and a hidden microphone in his backpack.
"As soon as I landed in Cuba, I complied with all entry requirements. There's a significant issue here right now: the worst humanitarian crisis in perhaps 50 years," Shirley stated in his video.
Accompanied by two security guards, Shirley ventured into Havana's streets, capturing the scene: crumbling buildings, food shortages, nearly deserted roads—where gas costs $10 a liter—and long lines at hospitals operating without electricity, where surgeons reportedly perform operations by flashlight.
Unfolding Events Leading to Pursuit
The situation escalated when Shirley interviewed a man about communism near a hospital. A woman approached them, secretly recording with her phone. Confronted, she claimed to be on a call, yet her screen revealed the camera app.
One of Shirley’s guards followed her as she met with another Cuban intelligence agent, and they headed to the hotel lobby.
By 9:30 PM on Thursday, April 30, at least three agents were waiting in the lobby of one of the few hotels with 24/7 electricity in Havana, while a dark vehicle observed from the street.
From the eighth floor, Shirley narrated, "We currently have Cuban intelligence in the hotel lobby, working to essentially catch us and possibly imprison us or prevent our departure from Cuba."
Planning an Escape
Shirley recorded the video as an emergency testimony: "If this video reaches the world, I've either been kidnapped or I'm safe. If it's after May 1, I wasn't kidnapped."
His escape plan involved zigzagging in taxis to confuse the agents, reaching the U.S. Embassy—about 2.5 kilometers away—and purchasing a last-minute flight to leave on Friday morning, before the regime's largest annual march took place in front of the hotel.
This May 1 march was led by Raúl Castro, marking his first public appearance since December 2025, as reported by independent Cuban media.
"This is no joke. When discussing communism, often overlooked aspects are freedom of speech or press freedom," Shirley emphasized in his video.
Support and Wider Implications
Miami-Dade County Commissioner Roberto J. González shared the video on X, labeling it "real journalism" and thanking Shirley for "shining a light on this tyrannical and murderous regime oppressing the Cuban people."
"There's much more to show you in the coming days as we escape from Cuba," wrote Shirley, who made headlines last year for allegedly exposing a massive public fund fraud in Minnesota's daycare system, in the comments section of his YouTube video.
This incident highlights the systematic repression faced by independent journalism in Cuba, where state intelligence has ramped up attacks against the press in recent months.
In January 2026, the Cuban Institute for Freedom of Expression and Press recorded 69 arbitrary journalist detentions, a 430% increase compared to the same period the previous year, amid a crisis leaving over two million Cubans in emergency conditions and more than 96,000 surgeries pending.
Cuba ranks 160th out of 180 countries in the 2026 Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, the second-worst in Latin America, only behind Nicaragua, and currently holds 775 political prisoners, 338 of whom were sentenced following the July 11, 2021 protests.
Insights into Press Freedom and Political Repression in Cuba
How did Nick Shirley manage to document his experience despite the confiscation of his equipment?
Nick Shirley was able to document his experience using his iPhone and a microphone that was overlooked during the confiscation of his equipment by the authorities.
What measures did Nick Shirley take to ensure his safety and escape from Cuba?
Shirley planned a strategic escape by using taxis in a zigzag pattern to evade agents, aiming to reach the U.S. Embassy and secure a last-minute flight out of the country.