A Cuban mother residing in the United States has broken her silence in a TikTok video posted on July 8, revealing the reasons her son remains in Cuba while she has been away from the island for seven years.
Identifying herself on the platform as @jennytiktokshop7, Jenniffer shared a heartfelt five-minute testimony in response to criticisms accusing her of abandoning her child.
“My son is not in Cuba because of me, but because his father refused to sign,” Jenniffer stated, directly pointing to the child's father, Isco Carbonell Castellano, as the obstacle.
According to Jenniffer's account, the father left Cuba first. She requested the necessary notarial authorization for their son to emigrate, but he declined to provide it.
Upon reaching Colombia, the first stop on her migration journey, Jenniffer once again sought his signature, armed with her passport and documentation. Yet again, he refused.
In an effort to reunite with her son, Jenniffer even offered to move to Uruguay, where the father was residing at the time, but her proposal was met with yet another refusal.
“He told me no, that when our son is of age, he could decide whether to leave with you or with me... that he wouldn’t sign until then. Why would I need it then? What use is it when he’s an adult?” she recounted, her frustration evident.
Jenniffer spent two years in Colombia and has been in the United States for five, totaling seven years of unsuccessful attempts to reunite with her child.
Struggles Beyond Borders
To counter claims of abandonment, Jenniffer highlighted that she did manage to bring another son and her brother from Cuba: “If I didn’t want to bring any of my children, I wouldn’t have brought my other son from Cuba or his brother.”
The physical separation is compounded by a communication barrier. “I can’t speak with my son because whenever I call, the phone isn’t answered, they turn it off, or say there’s no signal,” she lamented, adding, “They don’t want me to talk to him so he doesn’t learn the truth.”
This situation underscores a systemic issue affecting countless Cuban families. Cuban law mandates that both parents provide notarial consent for a minor to leave the country, effectively giving either parent absolute veto power. The Family Code (Law 156/2022) enforces joint parental responsibility regardless of cohabitation, and the only legal recourse if a parent refuses is to initiate a court process.
A Broader Reality
“All Cuban mothers know that if we ever wish to leave Cuba, we must rely on fathers who are seldom present, yet we need their consent,” Jenniffer summarized, echoing a sentiment shared by other Cuban mothers separated from their children.
This regulation has been documented as a tool for blackmail or retaliation in relationship conflicts, and the plight of separated Cuban families has only intensified in recent years.
Jenniffer stressed that her video isn't about seeking sympathy or followers: “It’s not for pity or followers; it’s simply so that one day my son learns the true story of all this.” Her hope is that, as her son grows up and accesses social media, he will find her testimony and understand why he couldn’t be with his mother.
Understanding Cuban Family Separation Laws
What are the legal requirements for a minor to leave Cuba?
Cuban law requires both parents to provide notarial authorization for a minor to emigrate, giving either parent the ability to veto the child's departure.
What options do parents have if one parent refuses to sign?
If one parent refuses to sign, the other parent must initiate a legal process, which can be lengthy and complicated, to gain the necessary authorization.
How are Cuban family separation issues being addressed?
While individual cases like Jenniffer's highlight the issue, broader changes in family law or international advocacy might be necessary to address the systemic problems causing family separations in Cuba.