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THE MONITOR: EDITORIAL: US Cuban assistance program unfair as relations change
UNITED STATES,
March 23, 2016
EDITORIAL: US Cuban assistance program unfair as relations change
Ramon Espinosa | The Associated Press Posted: Wednesday, March 23, 2016 5:35 am THE MONITOR EDITORIAL BOARD IMMIGRATION SERIES — Read The Monitor’s ongoing immigration series since 2014 at myrgv.com/brokenborders/ As President Barack Obama is in Havana this week meeting with Cuban President Raúl Castro in a historic first for a U.S. president in almost 90 years, it’s becoming clear to the world that relations with this island nation are beginning to thaw. Certainly, as Obama declared on Monday, this is a “new day” of openness between the United States and Cuba. And whenever countries begin to work out their differences and work toward agreements — such as what is beginning to occur in Cuba this week — it is a time for celebration. It also is a time to reevaluate and revise conditions and laws that were established in bygone days. Namely, we once again question special U.S. immigration policies that are in place for Cubans that do not apply to immigrants from Central and South American countries or Mexico who are fleeing to America to escape gangs, violence and government regimes. Under a 50-year-old U.S. law, Cubans are allowed an immediate pathway to permanent U.S. residency once they step onto U.S. soil — an unfair practice not afforded to other immigrants. Commonly referred to as “the wet-foot, dry-foot” policy, Cubans who cross onto U.S. land are immediately put on a path to citizenship and eligible for U.S. assistance programs. This is fueling a recent surge of Cubans crossing into South Texas through Laredo, which is the home district of U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat, who has repeatedly called for this law to be changed. Cuellar is among 34 members of Congress who are co-sponsoring a House bill, the Cuban Immigrant Work Opportunity Act of 2015, by U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., which would restrict U.S. government assistance to Cuban immigrants. Under the current Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980, Cuban immigrants are immediately put in refugee assistance programs and given federal benefits, like food stamps and health care, which other immigrants who are appealing for asylum are not privy to. Cuellar has told The Monitor’s Editorial Board that he believes this is unfair, as do we. And we believe it must end if U.S. lawmakers are to finally put forth meaningful immigration reform in our country. “The moment they come in, regardless of the situation, they can get federal benefits right away,” Cuellar told us in January. “Who else gets this type of (deal?) Nobody gets this so it’s not fair for everybody and we ought to change it.” “Like asylum seekers from all over the world, those Cubans seeking public assistance benefits will have to demonstrate that they left Cuba fleeing political persecution and are unable to return under the current totalitarian regime,” Curbelo said when he proposed the bill in December. The bill would also require the Obama administration to verify the residency of Cubans receiving federal benefits, to weed out those getting the assistance while living in Cuba. This bill seems quite timely right now as world events unfold and as Cubans continue to head to the United States in mass. In 2014 and 2015, over 67,437 Cubans have come into the United States, with nearly 44,000 — 65 percent — entering in Laredo, making our region the new favorite entry point for Cubans, who in past years entered in South Florida. That number will only continue to rise as U.S. efforts to normalize relations with the island regime continue on the current trajectory and Cubans realize that a window for legally entering the United States appears to be closing. With the rest of the world realizing the change in relations between the United States and Cuba, it’s time our U.S. lawmakers do also.
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