Lizet is a first-generation Cuban-American college student from Hialeah, Florida. She attends the prestigious Rawlings College in upstate New York, where she feels culturally and financially alienated from her wealthy, predominantly white peers. At home, she faces intense backlash from her family, who view her decision to leave Florida as an abandonment of her roots. She struggles academically while keeping her difficulties hidden from her relatives.

Lourdes Ramirez is Lizet and Leidy's mother, a Cuban immigrant who came to the United States as an adolescent. Following an unexpected separation from her husband, she lives in a Little Havana apartment. She channels her feelings of loss and abandonment into grassroots activism regarding a rescued child, spending her days at protests rather than maintaining her family ties.

Ricky Ramirez is Lizet and Leidy's father, a Cuban immigrant who works in construction. He recently separated from Mami and moved into a Hialeah apartment with a roommate. He initially views Lizet's decision to go away to college as a betrayal but maintains a quiet pride in her academic pursuits, keeping pristine college pamphlets to show his coworkers.

Lizet’s older sister and a young single mother. She works at a local salon in Miami and struggles to support her infant son. Deeply rooted in Miami's culture, she views Lizet's changing vocabulary and college experiences with heavy skepticism. She expects her sister to prioritize the family over out-of-state opportunities.

Lizet's devoted high school boyfriend who works as a mechanic at Pep Boys. He stays in Miami and fails to understand why Lizet wants to attend an out-of-state college when she could easily stay in Florida with him. He views their relationship as a solid investment for the future and eagerly awaits her visits home.

A wealthy college student from New Jersey who serves as Lizet's freshman roommate at Rawlings. She holds confident but uninformed opinions about race and current events. She frequently makes assumptions about Lizet's background, introducing her to others simply as her "Cuban roommate."

A five-year-old Cuban boy found floating off the coast of Florida after his mother died trying to reach the United States. He becomes the center of an intense custody dispute, transforming into a powerful symbol for the Miami Cuban community and a subject of national media obsession.

A student at Rawlings College from a low-income family in Los Angeles. Because her mother lacks a green card, Jaquelin travels to college alone. She provides Lizet with a sense of solidarity and shared experience in an otherwise alienating academic environment.

A pale, red-haired senior at Rawlings College originally from Seattle. Despite his appearance fitting into the typical Rawlings mold, he comes from a low-income background. He bonds with Lizet over their shared financial struggles and provides her with a sense of comfort on campus.

A young Cuban woman and Ariel Hernandez's cousin who acts as his surrogate mother in the United States. She resembles a typical Miami girl and quickly becomes the target of Mami's intense affection during the custody protests.

An award-winning research biologist and German immigrant teaching at Rawlings College. She runs a rigorous laboratory and recognizes Lizet's aptitude for sterile lab procedures. She offers a summer internship opportunity that forces Lizet to choose between her academic future and her family in Miami.

Leidy's infant son, born following a high school relationship. His rapid physical growth serves as a visual marker of how much time Lizet has spent away at college. His daily care frequently falls to the women in the family as Mami becomes distracted by her activism.