A Cuban woman who relocated to Brazil shared a candid account on TikTok about the emotional impact of leaving everything behind in Cuba, lured by the promise of a better life. Her story resonated strongly within the Cuban expatriate community.
Known as Anita on TikTok, the user @anitalacubana7 posted a video on Tuesday clarifying that her reasons for emigrating were not rooted in extreme poverty. Both she and her husband led a stable life in Cuba, owning a house, a motorcycle, and a business.
"We sold everything to come here, absolutely everything, because they painted a perfect life in Brazil for us: come to Brazil, there's work here, rent, and an easy life," she asserts in her video.
Anita mentions that her video was a response to a previous post that her followers had misunderstood.
Her testimony highlights the emotional toll of migration as the true challenge, rather than material hardships.
"The hardest part of emigrating isn't arriving without money; it's realizing you sold your entire life for a dream that wasn't what they told you," she says.
She recounts nights spent crying in secret, feelings of fear, anxiety, and the regret of possibly having made the worst decision of her life.
What impacted her most was the inability to reverse the decision: "The worst part wasn't wanting to leave; it was knowing I couldn't go back because I had sold my whole life in Cuba."
Anita also differentiates between various profiles of Cuban migrants: "For someone who never had anything in Cuba, this might seem like paradise. But for those who had their business, stability, and a life set up, yet chose to sell everything to start from scratch, they truly understand this pain."
This account contributes to an ongoing discussion among Cubans who choose Latin American countries for migration, especially after traditional routes to the United States have closed.
The numbers indicate this trend: In the first half of 2025, Brazil received 19,419 asylum requests from Cubans, a 60.8% increase compared to the same period the previous year, making Cubans the nationality with the highest number of requests, surpassing Venezuelans.
However, the approval rate is nearly nonexistent. Brazil's National Committee for Refugees approved only two Cuban applications during that time, denied nine, and shelved over 10,000 cases, according to data collected by the Observatory of International Migrations.
Other viral testimonies from Cubans in Brazil have discussed work conditions, immigration bureaucracy, and the difficulty of trusting fellow countrymen, painting a picture that starkly contrasts with the hopeful expectations many arrive with.
Despite everything, Anita concludes her story with a message of resilience that encapsulates the experiences of thousands of Cubans abroad.
"Brazil has also given me opportunities, learning experiences, and strength I never thought I had, and I know that little by little, things will improve, because migration breaks many things but also makes you stronger," she concludes.
FAQs on Cuban Migration to Brazil
What are the main challenges faced by Cuban migrants in Brazil?
Cuban migrants in Brazil often face emotional challenges such as regret, anxiety, and the feeling of loss from selling their lives in Cuba. They also encounter bureaucratic hurdles, difficulty finding reliable work, and a generally low approval rate for asylum requests.
How does Anita's story reflect the broader Cuban migration experience to Brazil?
Anita's story is emblematic of many Cuban migrants who leave behind stable lives in search of better opportunities, only to face unexpected emotional and practical challenges. Her experience highlights the complexity and emotional toll of migration, a sentiment shared by many in the community.