Opinion

I was lucky enough to escape Cuban socialism. America’s 250th reminds me why

Power outages, food shortages and repression just 90 miles from Florida offer a living reminder of lost freedom

By Yali Nuñez Fox News

Published June 26, 2026 5:00am EDT

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As America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, I find myself reflecting not only on this nation's remarkable journey, but also on my own.

I was born in Cuba under a socialist system that promised equality and prosperity but delivered scarcity, repression and limited opportunity. At 16, my family left the island and embarked on a difficult journey through Central America in search of something millions around the world still seek today: freedom.

My story is not unique. It is part of a larger American story repeated for generations. Immigrants from Cuba, Venezuela, Eastern Europe and countless other places have come to the United States not because it is perfect, but because it offers something rare in human history: the freedom to build a better life through hard work, personal initiative, and individual liberty.

As we approach the semiquincentennial of the United States, Americans should consider a simple question: Why do people flee socialist........

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