Annotated Links Post

1. What the Cuban people search for is the land of capitalism where there are fewer restrictions on freedom and more job opportunities. The reason why they migrate to Miami is because in Cuba they constantly live their life’s feeling threatened and scared to speak out. To travel they turn to homemade boats and smugglers. However if they are found at sea, they are sent back. This puts them in a position of possible punishments by the Cuban government.
2. When the Soviet Union fell apart in 1994 the economy in Cuba worsened as a result of them being heavily subsidized by them. This motivated Cubans to migrate to the U.S. and a 30,000-immigrant wave caused the creation of the “wet foot/dry foot” policy. However some people believe that this policy, which allows them to apply to residency, more people will be motivated to head out to the U.S. Because the U.S. coast guard patrols the ocean border so tightly many Cubans turn to smuggling, this has created a problem within the U.S. as a result of the government not knowing how to deal with this problem.
3. Recently President Obama eased money transfer and traveling restrictions but has left the U.S. embargo on Cuba. Raul Castro says he is ready to discuss immigration issues with the U.S. but will not make any gestures. This lift on restrictions may cause the immigration waves of Cubans either to calm down or make more Cubans want to travel to the U.S. because they will have the possibility to visit their families.
4. Under the “wet foot/dry foot” policy formally known as the U.S. Cuba immigration accord, the coast guard is forced to patrol the sea by boats, cutters and aircraft patrols. If they are found at sea, they are questioned and only if they have a well-founded fear of persecution will they be allowed to stay. If they hit land although, after a year they can apply for immigrant visa and eventually U.S. citizenship.( link 7)
5. When Cuban immigrants are repatriated as a result of being found at sea, U.S. interest sections are supposed to monitor migrants and interview them. However, because immigration talks have ceased there has been no enforcement of this. Also, under Cuban law it is a crime to immigrate illegally, this gives the government to harass, torture, and discriminate to those who have tried to immigrate illegally. (link 7)
6. In the past, 4 Cuban Americans have been elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. They have been instrumental in shaping U.S. foreign policy towards Cuba. Two thirds of the Cuban in the U.S. live in Florida therefore comprising eight percent of the state’s electorate which hold 27 electoral votes therefore magnifying their importance in National politics.
7. In the U.S. there is strong evidence of Cubans economic power; this can be seen in the economic reports produced by Dade-county. In the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s Cubans bought real estate, opened businesses, built banks etc. Now, three out of ten of the largest businesses are Cuban owned/managed. They own approximately 19,700 businesses in Dade-county, 4,500 medical doctors are Cubans and seventeen bank executives are Cuban.