A Cuban resident in Miami has ignited a significant discussion on social media platforms after sharing her migration story in a spirited TikTok video.
The woman, known by her TikTok handle @user680074416135, passionately contrasts her experiences as part of the ‘historical exile’ with those of some newly arrived Cubans in the United States.
Reflecting on her journey of 61 years since arriving in 1964 as a Cuban refugee, she recalled the strict immigration measures of her time, stating, ‘At that time, we couldn’t enter wet or through the border. We came by plane, with documents, because we were recognized as political exiles.’
Referred to as ‘historical exiles,’ this group includes Cubans who emigrated between the 1960s and 1980s to escape Fidel Castro’s regime.
With a strong voice, the woman expressed her frustration over what she perceives as a lack of respect and commitment from some newer migrants.
She criticized certain comments circulating on social media, claiming that newcomers are being labeled as lazy and opportunistic for benefiting from U.S. resources.
Addressing fellow Cubans, she noted, ‘Many of those who are criticizing now are also Cubans, but ones who came dressed in olive green, militiamen, fidelistas. And now they are here saying that Cubans don’t work.’
According to her, those who immigrated after the year 2000 are ‘not willing to work’ compared to those who fled in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, who she asserts ‘poured our hearts into our work.’
The woman vividly remembered the early days of her migration when Miami was still largely undeveloped.
‘This was a wilderness. There was no assistance here. The only help was working in factories with the Jews, twelve or fourteen hours a day, and then going on to a second job,’ she recounted.
She illustrated the hard reality that many migrants faced, saying, ‘We all had two jobs without knowing good English. I was 17 years old, and I was breaking my back in the cold.’
Pointing to the sacrifices made by those migrants, she explained that many could not remain in Florida’s warmth; they had to seek work in other states.
The woman also shared her experience of living in California for 16 years, where she assisted Mexican immigrants by hiding them in her home to protect them from immigration authorities.
‘Because Cubans do not take joy in anyone’s suffering,’ she remarked, sympathizing with those who are being deported, stating, ‘Now that they are deporting people without any prior records, it hurts us. Because we know what it is to start from scratch.’
However, she did not hesitate to criticize the attitude of some newcomers, asserting that many lack a strong work ethic, which she believes stems from lessons learned under Fidel Castro’s rule.
The woman challenged the younger generation, questioning why they complain and seek government assistance when they haven’t endured the true hardships faced by earlier migrants.
She stated, ‘They haven’t lived in the north; they haven’t felt the cold. We were ‘penguins,’ we ventured into the snow to get ahead.’
Despite her criticisms, she acknowledged that not all new migrants arrive with negative attitudes.
Some come to the United States ‘to study and to work,’ she noted, but she expressed her disappointment in those who take advantage of government support without contributing.
‘They spend a check they didn’t earn and then go on vacation to Cuba,’ she criticized.
In her concluding remarks, she highlighted the legacy of entrepreneurship among early Cuban exiles who built successful businesses from scratch, such as the founders of furniture stores like El Dorado and Navarro.
‘These people arrived on boats, set up a small store, worked in the snow, and then built their business,’ she asserted, emphasizing that ‘Miami was not given to us. We made it, with effort, from the swamp.’
Her passionate testimony defends the legacy of the historical Cuban exile and calls for respect and responsibility from those who have followed, urging them to appreciate the sacrifices made by the past generations.
image source from：https://en.cibercuba.com/noticias/2025-04-23-u1-e199370-s27061-nid301482-cubana-miami-critica-actitud-algunos-recien-llegados
