Walter, should we talk about the one exception?
For the last 61 years, Cuban immigrants have received special treatment. The vast majority of Cubans arrive in the U.S. without authorization and without visas. Many of them enter the U.S. through Mexico. Nonetheless, Cuban immigrants are immediately eligible for monthly social security benefits (cash), food stamps, subsidized housing and free health insurance through Medicaid and Medicare (not available to other immigrants).
In one-year, Cuban immigrants qualify for citizenship (compared to 5 years for other immigrants).
Cubans in their 70s and 80s come to America for retirement. While they spend their working lives in Cuba their pension is only $7./month. But here in America, they immediately qualify for social security benefits (a $700./month, or more, cash benefit). Just like communist/socialist Cuba, the U.S. government also provides retired Cuban immigrants with subsidized housing, food stamps and free medical care (Medicare/Medicaid).
About 77% of Cuban immigrants live in Florida. where the concentration of one immigrant group combined with financial support, enabled the formation of a powerful political presence no other group of immigrants can match. As you might expect, political views forged in communist Cuba remain decisively anti-communism and Cuba centered – rather than pro-Democracy or American centereed.
The following quotes from Cuban immigrants are instructive.
“I vote with Cuba’s freedom in mind,” Pablo said during one of his frequent visits to the renowned Calle Ocho in Miami-Dade county. “Republicans are better at putting more pressure on Cuba, and that’s why I align with the party.”
“I deeply hate communism, and Democrats today are complete communists,” Dominguez said. “They’re against rich people and millionaires who have companies. If a country goes against big companies – the ones who employ people – the country goes south like it happened in Cuba.”
Dominquez, is more concerned about keeping guns accessible to the public through the US constitution’s second amendment, and she likes that Republicans are devoted to that, saying Cubans lost the right to bear arms after Castro’s ascent.
Juan Fleites, who came [from Cuba] when he was 62 and never worked in the U.S., is grateful for the help. Now a U.S. citizen, he lives in a government-subsidized apartment and receives SSI and food stamps, saving enough to visit Cuba every two to three months. "This is the greatest country in the world," he said.
This special treatment causes resentment among some other immigrants. Lydia Perez worked for 45 years cleaning offices and working in a hotel kitchen but can't afford to visit her native Dominican Republic. She sees Cuban neighbors in her subsidized-housing complex receiving aid and returning to Cuba for visits.
"They come, they get the money, and they go to Cuba," said Perez, 81. "I see people who have never worked here in the U.S. and have the same things, the same benefits I have, or more."
