The Economy of South Florida

What many people fail to see is the great amount of influence Cuban immigrants have held in the South Florida Economy. Tightening border control could perhaps negatively affect the economy of South Florida. In Miami, Little Havana has been a bursting economic incubator for Latin businesses. These business owners have had large effect on the political make up of Miami. Many of them successfully fund republican political campaigns as a result of the Republican support of the Embargo. Miami also houses 19,700 Cuban businesses and 4,500 medical Doctors, a clear demonstration of their ability to succeed.

However, many people argue that the immigrants traveling to South Florida now do not hold the same level of education that immigrants in previous years have. This would result in a smaller influence to the economy and less economic success of the Cuban immigrants. People believe this because after Castro came into power the first to come the political or military elite followed by physicians, lawyers, and other professionals. The ones that were left behind were the less educated and those with lower occupational status. However what people need to consider is that without the people of lower occupational status will most likely take “low skilled jobs” that are labor intensive and offer low pay. People argue that they are taking away jobs from United States citizens however, shouldn’t U.S. citizens be striving for better jobs? They also say that they are only successful as a result of the “economic enclave” which is saying that they only benefit primarily on individuals who speak their language and share their culture. Why is this a bad thing though? Americans are successful for the same exact reason and like Americans Cubans are a main attraction to tourism in the Miami area. People out of this culture have the ability to savor a Latin culture without even leaving the country.

Current Cuban Immigration to the U.S.

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

An Introduction to the Cuban Influence: A Reevaluation of my Topic

There are many debates on whether Cubans should be given the right to U.S. asylum if found by the U.S. coast guard at sea. Many believe that because they have yet to reach U.S. soil, they should not be granted the commodity of living in the United States; this is enforced through the “Wet Foot/ Dry Foot Policy.” However many people fail to notice, that unlike other Hispanic immigrants, Cubans make a significant contribution to our economy, government and media. (I will explore their influence in these fields through out my blog.) I am in no terms saying that there are no exceptions within other immigrant groups (I am one of them), but if we look at the Cuban populations influence in Miami we can see that they have adapted particularly well to the U.S.
Miami houses the largest population of Cuban immigrants and Cuban Americans. This is as a result of Miami’s 90 miles distance from the Island of Cuba. The Cubans of South Florida, particularly Miami, have been able to adapt easily into the U.S. this may be due to the fact that Cuban’s are a “non homogeneous” culture. Some Cubans are Asian, some Black, some Caucasian, some Jewish, and some catholic. This has created a particularly diverse area within Miami allowing for the area to flourish as a result of this large non-homogeneity. I understand that diversity does exist within the United States, but Miami is a concentrated area within the U.S. where diversity is a large factor in its economic success. Miami, known as one of the “big cities” in the United States attributes much of its success to its Cuban culture. If the United States would tighten the U.S. coast guard border controls, it may have a negative effect on the Cuban influence and involvement in the Miami area.

http://books.google.com/books?id=2cdvNHYtcXcC&pg=PA1&lpg=PA1&dq=cubans+in+south+florida+and+their+success&source=bl&ots=De_NQA8AYQ&sig=A3eH1IpKQSbEmZ-owfWslKjkASU&hl=en&ei=BEPWSuLKMNPIlAeewOXAAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=cubans%20in%20south%20florida%20and%20their%20success&f=false