Cuban content creator Sussel Alonso recently shared her emotional journey of saying goodbye to her family as she left Cuba. Her heartfelt testimony quickly garnered thousands of views and supportive comments on social media.
"Leaving Cuba is so painful, damn it. No one can imagine the weight of an airport when you're leaving your entire life behind," Sussel expressed in a moving Instagram video.
She accompanied the video with a powerful message: "No one leaves their homeland because they stop loving it. Sometimes you leave because you feel you have no other choice; this is the cry of a Cuban."
The Pain of Forced Departure
From the outset, Sussel makes it clear that her departure wasn't a free choice. "I'm not crying because I left Cuba. I'm crying because I had to leave."
She articulates the difference between a desire to explore the world and the feeling of being pushed out of one's own country due to shortages and lack of freedoms. "Wanting to see the world is one thing, but feeling like your own country forced you to pack your bags is another," she stated.
Broken Ties and Emotional Struggles
The pain of severed connections is a significant part of her narrative: "It hurts to leave my homeland, my family. It hurts not knowing when I'll be able to give those hugs again. It hurts to think about all the moments that will now be shared over video calls."
Sussel emphasizes that her departure doesn't mean she has stopped loving Cuba: "I didn't leave because I prefer another land. I didn't leave because I stopped loving Cuba. I left because I refuse to wither alongside it."
A Mother’s Hope for a Better Future
The well-being of her child played a crucial role in her difficult decision to leave. "I feel my child deserves to grow up in a place where dreaming isn't a luxury, where work is sufficient, and where living isn't just surviving," she shared.
Criticism of the Cuban Government
Sussel does not shy away from addressing the political dimensions of her story, directly criticizing the Cuban government's role in the country's migration crisis.
"Yes, I feel anger. Anger that so many Cubans like me have to say goodbye to those we love most to seek a different life. Anger that the decisions made by those who govern my country have outweighed the well-being of its people... that's one of the reasons I'm no longer in Cuba," she remarked.
This testimony comes amid an unprecedented historical exodus. According to the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI), in 2025, Cuba saw 313,414 people leave permanently, while only 72,056 returned, resulting in a negative migration balance of 245,264 people, equivalent to 2.5% of the population.
Since 2021, more than a million Cubans have left the island, driven by a lack of freedoms, political repression, prolonged power outages, chronic shortages, and a severe economic crisis. Cuba has experienced nine consecutive years of population decline.
Understanding the Cuban Migration Crisis
Why are so many Cubans leaving the country?
Many Cubans are leaving due to a combination of factors including lack of personal freedoms, political repression, severe economic hardships, and chronic shortages of basic goods and services.
How has the Cuban government contributed to the migration crisis?
Critics argue that the Cuban government's policies and governance have exacerbated economic and social conditions, prompting many citizens to seek better opportunities abroad.
What impact does this migration have on Cuba?
The migration has led to a decline in population, which can impact the labor force and economic productivity, further straining the country's resources.