As I said in my last post, I said that I would cover the topics of the economy, the media, and government and how Cuban immigrants in the South Florida area have a large effect in each one of theses fields. However, this year there has been a large drop in the number of Cuban immigrants, possibly the lowest number in decades. This is as a result of three things: the current economic situation, the stricter law enforcements place on smugglers of Cuban Immigrants, and President Obamas changes to the visiting right of families to Cuba.
In Miami, unemployment has reached up to 11.6 percent this is nearly double of the previous years unemployment. Because most immigrants arrive by smuggling arrangements, most families have been unable to pay these large smuggling fees. Also, because Raul Castro is now dictating the Island, many residents are waiting to see they way Castro will react to the economic crisis within the Island. Numbers successfully show these effects. Just in the past year, the US Coast Guard was intercepting 183 Cubans a months to 72 a month, also the amount of Cubans reaching the US by sea has gone down to 1,000 from a previous number of 4,000.
There has also been a greater enforcement on smugglers. The U.S. Coast Guard has begun to inspect suspicious boat prior to leaving South Florida Marinas. In addition to this those who are charged fro smuggling face higher penalties than previous charges on smugglers. Not only this, but smugglers who at times would throw passengers into the ocean to distract the U.S coast guard are now being intercepted by various coast guard boats rather than only one.
President Obama has also lifted restrictions on traveling and money transfers to the Island. Cuban Americans who desire to go back to visit their families now have the chance this perhaps easing the want to migrate to the US. However, I believe this will only cease Cuban immigration shortly. After the economy is restored Cubans will once again have the desire to migrate to Miami as a result of higher Job availability which for right now is not available to them.
http://diverseeducation.com/article/12994/fewer-cubans-make-crossing-to-us-economy-cited.html
If there has been a greater enforcement of smugglers won't that mean that smugglers will presumably charge more to smuggle cubans over because of the higher risk? Isn't this exactly what the greater enforcement on smugglers is hoping to do. And by the drop in the numbers it seems as if this is working so do you feel that this is good or bad? Do you believe that the necessary risk to illegally travel from Cuba to the United States is warranted or do you believe Cubans should not be taking these risks?
ReplyDeletePossibly the prices would go up, but then again it is already difficult to pay these high fees. So it is suffice to say that most probably they will keep prices the same. I do believe that this is having a negative effect because of the strict enforcement people will try to find more dangerous ways to get into the U.S.
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