Surviving on instant noodles for a month, sleeping on the floor surrounded by cockroaches for a week, with rats scurrying near their heads, and pulling out thorns in the desert by counting to three—this is how a Cuban family humorously and emotionally recounted their migration journey to the United States in a TikTok video that quickly resonated with the Cuban diaspora.
Posted by the user @713_liaa, the nearly two-minute clip utilizes the viral format "we endured so much on the journey that..." to humorously yet nostalgically reflect on episodes that tested the family's physical and emotional limits. The family, consisting of at least three members, shared their story amidst laughter and memories.
"We made this video with a hint of humor because those days were incredibly tough and painful. Today, we're proud to have achieved the American dream, but we won't forget what we endured to get here," they wrote in the video's description.
The Harsh Reality of Migration
This family's journey is just one of thousands of tales depicting the arduous path Cubans take to reach the United States. Stay updated on immigration news in our U.S. Immigration section.
One of the most poignant moments came from the father, who refused to sleep at night to watch over the others, as rats—"this big," according to a family member stretching out their arms—crawled near their heads.
"We slept on the floor, and he wouldn't sleep so we could rest because there were rats of this size crawling beside us, near our heads and all that, and he stayed awake to watch over our sleep," one of the women recounts in the video.
Another family member nervously laughs while recalling how one of the women nearly fell off a cliff during their trek.
Celebration and Struggles at the Border
Upon finally crossing the border, the family's young man wanted to take a photo to commemorate the achievement. The mother's response was immediate: "Kid, what photo? Don't be ridiculous, you always do the same thing."
The journey didn't conclude with the border crossing. The family was taken to a "hielera," the term Cuban migrants use for the U.S. Border Patrol's short-term processing cells, notorious for their cold temperatures and concrete benches.
According to Human Rights Watch, conditions in these facilities are documented as overcrowded spaces without beds, lights glaring 24/7, and temperatures that can cause severe anxiety, particularly in individuals with claustrophobia.
The Path Through Central America
The route described by the family—thorny desert vegetation, nights on the ground, and time in the border "hielera"—is typical of the Central American corridor that thousands of Cubans have navigated in recent years through Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico to reach the U.S. southern border. Cuban migrants have led the migratory flow through Honduras, with many crossing the country by land in pursuit of the same destination.
Other Cubans have shared similar experiences on social media. One woman recounted her odyssey of reaching the U.S. by crossing 13 countries, while a Cuban influencer revealed she spent 18 days in the process before arriving in Miami, blending pain with the determination of those who chose to leave the island.
The @713_liaa video concludes with a phrase that encapsulates the entire journey: "But we are here now."
Frequently Asked Questions About Cuban Migration to the U.S.
What challenges do Cuban migrants face on their journey to the U.S.?
Cuban migrants often endure harsh conditions such as food scarcity, exposure to wildlife like rats, and physical challenges like thorny desert landscapes. They also face the stress of being detained in cold, overcrowded facilities at the U.S. border.
Why do Cuban migrants refer to U.S. Border Patrol cells as "hieleras"?
The term "hielera," meaning "icebox," is used by Cuban migrants to describe U.S. Border Patrol processing cells due to their cold temperatures, lack of beds, and concrete benches, creating an uncomfortable and stressful environment.