A Cuban woman known on TikTok as @dayexi48 touched the hearts of thousands when she shared a heartfelt reunion with her parents in Brazil. This emotional moment marked the end of a long and arduous journey, filled with challenges that many Cuban families face in their emigration process, involving significant effort, financial hardship, and bureaucratic hurdles.
The touching 45-second video on TikTok captures the emotional reunion, with Dayexi expressing her joy: "Finally, my parents are in Brazil. We did it. The family is complete now." The clip quickly amassed over 51,800 views and more than 4,100 likes, resonating with many who have experienced similar struggles.
Dayexi's profile features the flags of Cuba, Guyana, and Brazil, hinting that her migration route included a stop in Guyana before reaching Brazil. This path is common for Cubans entering Brazil through its northern border, particularly via Bonfim in Roraima state.
The Complex Path to Family Reunion
Bringing family together in Brazil is no easy feat. Only refugees with officially recognized status can apply to have this status extended to family members, a process that can drag on for more than five years without a set legal timeframe for resolution.
Financial costs add another layer of difficulty: reports suggest Cuban families need approximately $5,000 to cover visas, tickets, and other expenses, making each reunion both an emotional and financial achievement.
A Growing Trend: Cubans Seeking Asylum in Brazil
Dayexi's reunion occurs at a time when Cubans have surpassed Venezuelans in asylum applications in Brazil, a first in over a decade. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, Brazil recorded 9,467 asylum requests from Cubans, compared to 5,794 from Venezuelans, according to the Migration Panel of Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security.
This trend has been accelerating since 2022, with 7,600 Cuban applications that year, increasing to 13,100 in 2023, and reaching 19,100 between January and November 2024.
Brazil has become a key destination for Cubans, not just as a transit point to Uruguay or the United States, but as a place to live and work, especially in states like Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo, Roraima, and Amazonas.
Viral Reunions: A Reflection of Cuban Struggles
These reunions often go viral on social media, capturing the emotional toll of separation. Stories like that of an 83-year-old Cuban grandmother reuniting with her family after years apart have moved countless viewers, much like other reunions that have brought tears to onlookers or tales of waiting six long years to embrace a loved one.
Every such video encapsulates the years of sacrifice imposed by the Cuban regime, forcing individuals to abandon their homeland in search of a better future, and to rebuild their lives—and families—from scratch in a new land.
Understanding Cuban Migration to Brazil
Why are more Cubans seeking asylum in Brazil?
Economic hardship and political repression in Cuba drive many to seek refuge in Brazil, seen as a viable destination for work and a better life.
What are the challenges of reuniting families in Brazil?
The process involves lengthy bureaucratic procedures and significant financial costs, requiring formal refugee status and substantial funds for travel and documentation.
How do Cuban migrants typically reach Brazil?
Many Cubans travel through Guyana into Brazil, entering via the northern border, particularly in the Roraima state, a common route for migrants.