A Cuban woman living in the United States sparked a heated online debate by defending her decision to return to Cuba, addressing her critics head-on. Iris Deysi, known on TikTok as @iris_laprospera, posted a four-minute video on May 18 where she systematically countered the arguments of those opposing her plan.
The controversy began with a comment she read aloud on camera: "the electricity, gasoline, internet, food, and freedom—no thanks, enjoy your cage." Iris responded bluntly, challenging both the idealized perception of life in the U.S. and the notion of Cuba as an unlivable place.
"I didn't come to this country to stay; I came to improve, and I've already achieved that," she stated. Having been in the U.S. for four years, arriving when her son was only six months old, she reflected on how by May 2026, he would nearly be five. "I don't know when I'll see him again, so don't criticize what you don't understand because I'm doing this for me, my son, and my family," she emphasized.
Addressing the criticisms about Cuba's crisis, Iris offered tangible solutions thanks to her income from abroad. Regarding power outages, she said, "with solar panels, the electricity doesn't go out, honey, and that's an investment I imagine you couldn't make." On internet access, she noted, "I can FaceTime my family anytime because we have internet 24/7, thanks to an antenna bought with money I suppose you don't have." Discussing food, she mentioned a previous video where she showed what she called a stockpile of provisions.
Simultaneously, she critiqued the American way of life with equal vigor. "From the moment you wake up until you go to bed, you have to pay, work, and suffer because happiness here is scarce," she remarked. She also pointed out that in the U.S., "the house is never truly yours," as it takes 30 to 35 years to pay off, and cars can be repossessed if payments are missed. In contrast, in Cuba, the three-story house she built in Pinar del Río—her "fortress"—is wholly hers.
Iris acknowledged that not every emigrant has her luck: "some people haven't fared well and had to return with nothing." However, she plans to return to Cuba with at least the same comforts she has in the U.S., if not more. Besides her house, she is developing a farm on the island.
Iris's case is part of a growing trend among Cubans in the U.S. who emigrated to accumulate wealth to invest in Cuba and return with better living conditions. The online debate pits two perspectives against each other: those who see the U.S. as a trap of work and debt, and those who argue that Iris's solutions—solar panels, satellite antennas, food reserves—are beyond the reach of most Cubans without foreign currency.
In concluding her video, Iris summed up the underlying tension: "don't come here to do nothing because you'll get arrested, and yet, so many people are doing the right things and are still imprisoned."
Understanding the Debate on Returning to Cuba
Why did Iris Deysi choose to return to Cuba?
Iris Deysi decided to return to Cuba after achieving her goal of improving her life in the U.S. She aimed to use her earnings to establish a comfortable life back in Cuba with her family.
What solutions does Iris propose for the challenges in Cuba?
Iris suggests investing in solar panels to avoid power outages and using satellite antennas for continuous internet access, ideas she believes are feasible with income from abroad.
What criticism does Iris have about life in the U.S.?
Iris criticizes the U.S. lifestyle for being filled with financial burdens, highlighting that property and assets are never truly owned due to long-term payments and potential repossessions.