A Cuban living abroad took to Facebook this Wednesday to share an emotional post, expressing a bittersweet joy as his two children, daughter-in-law, and grandchild left Cuba on Tuesday, seeking the opportunities they couldn't find on the island.
Héctor D. Bayarre Vea titled his heartfelt message, "Farewell, Cuba, Beloved Homeland: In Search of Prosperity," concluding with a statement that encapsulates the plight of countless Cuban families: "Farewell, Cuba, beloved homeland. Not because love has vanished, but because hope needed to pack its bags."
This date holds profound significance for Bayarre. In a few days, it will be eight years since his own departure from Cuba on November 25, 2018, when he emigrated to join his children following the birth of his first grandchild. Now, that very grandchild leaves with his parents.
"I never imagined that farewell would mark the beginning of a long separation, much less that nearly eight years later, the same grandchild would be leaving Cuba with his parents," Bayarre reflected.
The reason for their departure was clear: it wasn't a lack of love for Cuba or a desire for wealth. "They left in pursuit of something far more fundamental and legitimate: the chance to build a life based on work, stability, merit, and hope," he explained.
Bayarre pointed out that emigration begins long before boarding a plane: "when a family feels that effort is no longer enough; when young people realize their aspirations face more barriers than opportunities."
He acknowledged a conflicted feeling he calls "approach-avoidance conflict": "On one hand, I am happy for their move towards freedom, but on the other, I feel the uprooting that such an action can cause and the contribution to the rapid aging of the Cuban population and the daily deprofessionalization my country suffers."
Cuba ended 2025 with a population of 9,434,593, down from over 11.1 million in 2022. That year saw a negative migration balance of 245,264 people. Deaths nearly doubled births: 136,214 deaths compared to 68,064 births. The number of registered doctors fell from 106,131 in 2021 to 71,635 in 2025, a 32.5% decrease over four years.
By the end of 2024, 50% of emigrants were under 35, according to researchers at the University of Havana's Center for Demographic Studies, accelerating the aging of those remaining on the island.
"My family's story is not exceptional but rather the norm. That's why it hurts so much because, deep down, it's also Cuba's story," he wrote. "Cuba's recent history is filled with similar farewells. Behind every emigrant is a mother waiting, a father missing them, grandparents counting the days to see their grandchildren again, and children driven by hope. Statistics speak of numbers; families speak of emotions."
"If so many people continue to leave, if so many families keep splitting apart, it's because the reasons pushing them to do so still exist," he noted.
"Cuba will remain the beloved homeland of our memories, our language, our customs, and our affections. No one renounces the land where they learned to walk. No one leaves behind the memories that helped shape their identity. And from wherever one is, they project that Cuban spirit that some believe they have the right to usurp," he asserted.
Understanding Cuba's Emigration Crisis
Why are many Cubans leaving the island?
Many Cubans are leaving in search of better opportunities, stability, and a chance to build a life based on merit and hope, which they struggle to find in Cuba.
How has Cuba’s population been affected by emigration?
Cuba's population has decreased significantly due to emigration, with a notable decline in younger residents, which accelerates the aging of the remaining population.
What impact does emigration have on Cuba's healthcare system?
Emigration has led to a substantial decrease in the number of registered doctors, contributing to the deprofessionalization of Cuba’s healthcare system.