Cuban comedian and actor Ulises Toirac took to Facebook this Sunday to share a poignant reflection titled "The Blow of Emigrating," capturing the profound sorrow that emigration inflicts on Cuban families. His words have struck a chord with thousands, echoing the experiences of his followers and their families.
Toirac employs a striking metaphor to illustrate the act of leaving one's homeland: "Emigrating is a blow that leaves a mark, like a tattoo. It hurts when it's done and remains forever."
The Dual Nature of Migration Sorrow
In his post, Toirac delineates two facets of the migratory anguish. The first is deeply personal: "family, the home (which in Cuba often remains the same throughout one's life, where every corner holds a story)." The second, broader in scope, includes "the neighborhood, the city, the country, friends, schools." Ultimately, he asserts that "leaving hurts, even if the future looks promising."
The Irreplaceable Loss of Loved Ones
One of the most heartbreaking aspects, according to Toirac, is the irrevocable separation from loved ones: "There are instances where you know you will never see certain people again. And that hurts deeply." The pain intensifies when emigration is not a choice but a necessity: "When you have no options but to emigrate, you're plagued by frustration, anger, and... the pain is more bitter and profound."
Toirac clarifies at the end of his post that he himself is not emigrating: "No. I'm not emigrating. I am envisioning all the stories that have happened... and those yet to come. And it hurts how filled we are with this crap."
A Broader Critique of Cuban Emigration
This reflection comes just days after Toirac appeared on the podcast "Todos Hablan" with actor Jorge Martínez, where he described the Cuban emigration post-1959 as "the worst demographic disaster in Cuba's history" due to the irreversible family separations it causes. During the discussion, he also expressed resentment towards adapting to a "sixth-world country" and refused to let life become "a sum of negativities."
In recent times, Toirac has been vocal in his criticism of the Cuban regime through his social media. Last Tuesday, he posted, "Want less dissent? Invest in electricity, water, and gas... not police." In July, he described the electrical collapse with the phrase, "it's no longer the light at the end of the tunnel; it's that there's no tunnel."
Demographic Crisis in Cuba
Standing behind these words is a demographic crisis of historic proportions. According to Cuba's National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI), 2025 saw a net migration loss of 245,264 people, with 317,320 leaving and only 72,056 arriving. The country's population decreased from 9,748,007 at the end of 2024 to 9,434,593 by the close of 2025, a drop of 313,414 in one year alone.
Since 2020, Cuba has seen a decline of over 1.6 million inhabitants, driven by mass emigration and a faltering natural growth rate. This exodus particularly impacts younger generations; as noted by researcher Arelis Rosalen Mora Pérez from the University of Havana's Center for Demographic Studies, 50% of emigrants by the end of 2024 were under the age of 35.
Understanding the Migration Crisis in Cuba
What metaphor does Ulises Toirac use to describe emigration?
Ulises Toirac compares emigration to a tattoo, describing it as a blow that leaves a permanent mark, causing pain at the moment and staying forever.
How has the demographic crisis affected Cuba's population?
Cuba's population has decreased by over 1.6 million people since 2020 due to mass emigration and declining natural growth, with a significant impact on younger generations.
What did Toirac express about adapting to living conditions in Cuba?
Toirac expressed his refusal to adapt to living in a "sixth-world country" and rejected the idea of life being reduced to a collection of negative experiences.