While braving the rain as a delivery driver in the United States, a Cuban woman recorded a video to address her family members back in Cuba. She criticized their assumptions about her earnings, suggesting they think she makes $100 an hour, and lamented their lack of appreciation for the aid she sends to the island.
The video was shared on Facebook with the hashtag #cubanosporelmundo and posted by Yeisla Colina. She clarified that she wasn’t the original creator of the content but felt compelled to share it due to her growing frustration with the situation in Cuba.
Colina captured the footage from inside her car during a heavy downpour while working for Spark Driver, a delivery platform associated with Walmart where drivers earn per completed delivery as independent contractors.
“For those relatives in Cuba who think making $100 in the U.S. is easy... Look at where I am, doing Spark Drive in the middle of a downpour,” the visibly exhausted Cuban stated.
She revealed that she sends boxes of essential goods every month, yet they often go unappreciated. “Many times they don’t even thank you for the box you sent. They just keep asking for more and more,” she complained.
The Reality of Life in the U.S.
Colina also dispelled the myth that living in the U.S. means having excess money. “Do you know why we have it? Because we work hard to earn money and pay our bills. If I don’t pay for my car, they’ll take it away. If I don’t pay my car insurance, they’ll cut it off and fine me. If I don’t pay for electricity, they’ll turn it off. If I don’t pay rent, the landlord doesn’t care if I have two, three, or five kids. They’ll evict me!”
At the end of her video, Colina was firm: “Don’t ask me for anything else, because I’m not sending anything more over there. It breaks my heart, but I’m done.”
She also pointed to the root of the problem: “Don’t compare; Cuba has been like this for over 60 years because of a damn dictatorship, and you Cubans on the island aren’t doing anything about it.”
Growing Frustration Among Cubans Abroad
Colina’s experience isn’t unique. Throughout 2026, a pattern has emerged of Cubans abroad publicly expressing their frustration over constant requests for remittances.
In May, a Cuban woman in Florida vented after receiving simultaneous requests from four different people; in June, another in Spain called for more empathy; in July, a woman in Arizona asked her family to appreciate the effort of sending money; and by mid-August, another Cuban complained about being treated like an ATM by her relatives.
The underlying issue is the structural crisis of the Cuban economy, making remittances a vital survival mechanism for millions of families on the island. Estimates from January 2026 place annual remittances to Cuba between $1.8 billion and $2.1 billion, roughly 8.3% of Cuba’s GDP.
Sending money has become increasingly challenging since Western Union indefinitely halted its operations from the U.S. to Cuba in February 2025, due to sanctions related to Orbit S.A.. This shutdown has forced many emigrants to resort to informal channels, which carry higher risks of fraud and loss.
Understanding the Remittance Challenge for Cubans
Why are remittances crucial for Cuban families?
Remittances are vital for Cuban families due to the country's ongoing economic crisis, serving as a primary source of income for many households.
How has the suspension of Western Union affected remittances?
The suspension of Western Union's services has made it more difficult for emigrants to send money to Cuba, pushing them towards informal channels with higher risks of fraud.
What are the challenges faced by Cubans living abroad?
Cubans abroad face the challenge of balancing their financial responsibilities in their host country while dealing with constant requests for financial help from relatives in Cuba.