Now that the wind has died below 30 knots, I posted the photos from the Cuban landing a couple of weeks ago.
This group of 14 Cuban guys landed on Loggerhead Key after a 26-hour journey across 90-some miles of open ocean in a homemade boat (called a chug and quite an engineered contraption). Yikes!
See the photos.
This is all quite a process and is a real drain on the entire staff. The law enforcement rangers hauled them over to the fort from Loggerhead in the middle of the night (of course) and guarded them all night. Then, it's waiting until the Coast Guard can come and retrieve them (hopefully at daylight the next day but that doesn't always happen). In the meantime, law enforcement gave them food, water and clothes ('cause the ones they were in were nasty)!
Marching them out of the fort was quite a scene. All the tourists were scrambling for photos. Some even wanted to pose with the group of Cubans and get their photo taken. (Fortunately, this was quickly kiboshed by the lead law enforcement dude.)
Once the Coast Guard arrives, all the Cubans have to put on life vests (yeah, that makes a lot of sense after the way they just traveled!), get on the Coast Guard tender and then go to the Coast Guard cutter. After that, rumor has it they get $4000 or so and get to stay.
Then, the crew here at the fort has to retrieve the chug. In this case, it's taking a boat over to Loggerhead, towing it back to Garden Key and hauling it out of the water. Then, the chug stays here until they can decontaminate it (drain it of fuel and stuff), chop it up and haul it back to the mainland for proper disposal (dumping in a landfill).
7 comments:
Hi Karen-
From the details I've heard over my years of volunteering at DRTO, the "golden parachute" the Cubans receive is mind-boggling.
3 years of Medicare/Medicaid-
3 years of Food stamps/EBT cards-
3 years of Tax-Exempt Status-
Transportation to any location in the US were they have family-
Somewhere between $3000 & $6000 "starting out" money for each person (including children)-
And the big one-
Instant Green-Card-
There are a couple other things that are escaping my memory for the moment...but the point is that no other immigrant group gets this kind of benefit upon entry...
As a matter of fact, as a rule, every other nationality, upon crossing the US Border and getting apprehended, would be sent packing.
Haitians, Jamacians, Mexicans, Canadians, Russians, Chinese...
No one else gets 3 years of benefits, a pocket full of cash and a green card.
Where is the justice?
TBG
(Previous version deleted for correction)
As much as I'd love to just accept these statements, I'd appreciate seeing some kind of verification? If true, they are a bit nuts and I'd question why they're given.
This information may be helpful: http://www.usimmigrationsupport.org/cubaimmigration.html
Well, that site says "if they manage to reach American soil they are allowed to stay in the U.S. and granted residence." I've heard from other reliable sources that they are given a few thousand dollars as well. Once you have residency, you can get food stamps, medicare, etc. provided you don't make more than the set amount of income designated. Maybe I should get a tan, learn the language and start up fake immigration as my part time job!
Doog-
Keep in mind as you read that site, it's run by a legal firm catering to the immigration crowd.
My (albeit hearsay) info comes from Customs-Border Patrol officials and other DHS/C&I sources... It might be dated, but the numbers and issues are relatively consistent.
As to the why and how, as a rule Cubans are very astute politically. This is not a bad thing, in and of itself. Would that more Americans were as well-informed and politically active.
This penchant for political participation comes into play when you see that 3 generations of Cuban-Americans are currently in the voting rolls, and have had a hand in the election of officials, lobbying for their cause, and basically working through the correct governmental channels to provide for their cause.
The work ceaselessly for their communities (regardless of geographic location) and more to the topic, for the Cuban people.
My only gripe about this is that the nature of the "problem" in Cuba has changed since the 60's...
Yes, there are still truth squads, imprisoned political dissidents, etc, and yes the standard of living in Cuba is still horrifying...
When the refugees come here they are granted "political asylum"... When in reality they are looking for "economic asylum": the opportunity to come here, get a job, make money and send it back to their remaining families.
Having worked somewhere on the order of 20 or so landings in the Tortugas, I have a personal view of the situation. And it might be a bit biased because I've seen some things that burn my ass about the situation...
I've seen the 80+ year old Abuelas that were in a chug for 3 days in open ocean... I've given sips of water to 1-year-old children sunburned and bleeding-raw from saltwater so badly that it hurt just to look at them...
The parents bringing them here, risking their lives and that of their children, because back in Cuba they only earn $28 per month- hoping to get a minimum wage job here in the 'States.
Those encounters tear your heart out.
I was also part of a Go-Fast drop and dash on Loggerhead that deposited 9 tattooed gang-bangers from Havana on their way to Miami to bolster some street gang.
Things were pretty nasty in that particular encounter which eventually got very physical and dangerous...
There was also the chug that came ashore just before midnight on July 3, 2007 on the south swim beach...
Wasn't that nice... Welcome to America. Happy Independence Day.
Three of the 14 people immediately dropped trou and took a shit on the beach.
(I know because I had the extreme displeasure of having to clean it up the next morning after spending the night as part of the watch shift.)
I've also handed out bottles of fresh water the Cubans who handed them back... "Is warm. Give us Coca Cola."
I was stunned.
They drank the water, then threw the bottles off the dock into the water...
"What the hell?!" I said, and pointed at the bottle floating in the harbor.
The Cuban shrugged his shoulders.
"Si. Es basura." he said.
It's trash. That's what you do with trash. Just throw it down anywhere.
I almost threw him in the harbor.
(Wow... I'm ranting. I'll quit now. Sorry.)
Overall - I restate my position:
Equality for all. If it's good for Cubans, it's good for Haitians. And conversely, if we treat the Haitians one way, we should treat the Cubans the same.
But, if you come here seeking to be accepted, you better show some respect to our country, our people and our way of life.
Res Ipsa Loquitur
TBG
OK boys, settle down! I think it suffices to sum it up as yes, they are nuts!
All of 'em! (Myself included!)
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