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The U.S. government has special immigration programs to help Cubans enter the United States: Under the auspices of the U.S. Government's program Wet Foot, Dry Foot, Cuban Immigrants were allowed entry into the USA and were allowed to pursue residency one year later.

Cubans are less than 4% of the USA Hispanic population. Puerto Ricans are 9% of the Hispanic population in the USA.
The U.S. government has no special immigration policy to support Mexicans entering the United States.

Mexicans are 63% of the USA Hispanic population. Other Hispanics from Central and South American are 24% of the Hispanic population in the USA added to Mexicans at 63% totals 87% of all Hispanics that must comply with archaic immigration policies preventing entry into the United States.

Why does the U.S. government have special immigration programs to help Cubans who are less than 4% of all Hispanics to enter the United States and no U.S. Government immigration visa programs for Mexicans, Central and South Americans who total 87% of all Hispanics in the USA as they do for Cubans?

Why are Cubans given priority preference? 

A Republican presidential candidate wants to kill Mexican immigrants as they cross the border and wants all to laugh as Mexicans are killed. All Republican presidential candidates support the killing fields. All Republicans in Congress support more border enforcement and E-Verify to deport Mexicans and Rubio is a co-sponsor of this legislation.
U.S. Policy for Cubans is Unqualified Welcome but Not for Mexicans, Central & South Americans

 

SANTA FE, NM (By Jon Garrido, The Jon Garrido Network) November 6, 2011 ―  According to The U.S. Census Bureau, a 2010 Census brief on the nation's Hispanic population shows the Hispanic population increased by 15.2 million between 2000 and 2010 and accounted for more than half of the total U.S. population increase of 27.3 million.

 

Between 2000 and 2010, the Hispanic population grew by 43 percent, or four times the nation's 9.7 percent growth rate.

Detailed Hispanic Origin Distribution

Of Mexican, Puerto Rican or Cuban origin in the 2010 Census, Mexican origin was the largest group, representing 63 percent of the total U.S. Hispanic population — up from 58 percent in 2000. This group increased by 54 percent and saw the largest numeric change (11.2 million), growing from 20.6 million in 2000 to 31.8 million in 2010. Mexicans accounted for about three-fourths of the 15.2 million increase in the total Hispanic population between 2000 and 2010

The Mexican origin population represented the largest Hispanic group in 40 states, with more than half of these states in the South and West regions of the country, along with two states in the Northeast and all 12 states in the Midwest.

Puerto Ricans, the second largest group, comprised 9 percent of the Hispanic population in 2010 — down from 10 percent in 2000. The Puerto Rican population grew by 36 percent, increasing from 3.4 million to 4.6 million. Puerto Ricans were the largest Hispanic group in six of the nine states in the Northeast and in one western state — Hawaii, with a population of 44,000.

The Cuban origin population increased by 44 percent, growing from 1.2 million in 2000 to 1.8 million in 2010. Cubans made up approximately 4 percent of the total Hispanic population in both the 2000 and 2010 Censuses and were the largest Hispanic origin group in Florida in 2010 with a population of 1.2 million.

Since 2000, three detailed Hispanic origin groups surpassed a population of 1 million: Salvadoran (1.6 million), Dominican (1.4 million) and Guatemalan (1.0 million).

Regional Geographic Distribution

The Hispanic population grew in every region of the United States between 2000 and 2010, and most significantly in the South and Midwest. The South saw a 57 percent increase in its Hispanic population, which was four times the growth of the total population in the South (14 percent). Significant growth also occurred in the Midwest, where the Hispanic population grew by 49 percent. This was more than 12 times the growth of the total population in the Midwest (4 percent).

While the Hispanic population grew at a slower rate in the West and Northeast, the regions still saw significant growth between 2000 and 2010. The Hispanic population grew by 34 percent in the West, which was more than twice the growth of the total population in the West (14 percent). The Northeast's Hispanic population grew by 33 percent, or 10 times the growth of the total population in the Northeast (3 percent).

States

More than half of the Hispanic population in the United States resided in just three states: California, Texas and Florida. In 2010, 37.6 million, or 75 percent, of Hispanics lived in the eight states with Hispanic populations of 1 million or more: California, Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois, Arizona, New Jersey and Colorado. Hispanics in California accounted for 28 percent (14.0 million) of the total Hispanic population, while the Hispanic population in Texas accounted for 19 percent (9.5 million). Hispanics in Florida accounted for 8 percent (4.2 million) of the U.S. Hispanic population.

The Hispanic population experienced growth between 2000 and 2010 in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. In eight states in the South (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee) and in South Dakota, the Hispanic population more than doubled in size between 2000 and 2010. Even with this large growth rate, the percentage of Hispanics in 2010 in each of these states remained less than 9 percent, far below the national level of 16 percent.

Hispanics in New Mexico comprised 46 percent of the total state population, the highest proportion for any state. Hispanics were 16 percent or more of the state population (matching or exceeding the national level) in eight other states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, New Jersey, New York and Texas.

 

The country’s Hispanic voters most of whom are Mexican American and have immigrant friends or ancestors do have access to virtually instant legal status now granted to Cubans who make it into the United States.

Cuban Immigration to the United States

According to U.S. Immigration Support given the closeness of Cuba to the United States (90 miles) — Cuba, both geographical and, before the 1959 revolution, economic — it is no surprise there has always been movement of people between the countries. (Closeness of Mexico to the United States — less than one inch, the width of a line drawn in the sand).

The 1910 census showed there were officially 15,133 Cubans living in the United States, and a report on immigration to Congress at the time included data on 44,211 Cubans. In 1959, an estimated 124,000 Cubans were living in the United States. In the early years of the revolutionary government, an additional 215,000 moved here, and now the Cuban community is well over a million. The center of that community is in Miami, but there are sizable communities in other cities in Florida and in New York, Illinois, and California as well.

The existence and size of the Cuban community in the United States is a result of both "push" and "pull" factors. The revolutionary government's inflexible attitude toward dissent, and its imperviousness to demands that dissenters make, probably constitute the greatest push factors: Cubans who are unhappy have had no reason to believe they can effect changes in their lives. Another strong push factor for the recent wave of newcomers is the economic situation and scarcity of crucially necessary goods like medicine.

The "pull" factor has been the United States' policy with regard to Cuban immigrants which has effectively been, until recently, an unqualified welcome for both documented (Cubans entering the United States through normal immigration procedures, including legal departure from Cuba) and undocumented (Cubans arriving in the United States without immigrant visas, who have usually left Cuba illegally). Until 1985, there was no quota for Cubans entering the United States via normal immigration procedures, as there was for other immigrant groups. Cuban undocumented entrants have always had special status: While entrants from other countries have been required to demonstrate that they were fleeing political persecution to be granted refugee status, it was officially assumed that anyone arriving in the United States from Cuba was a bona fide refugee and therefore had automatic access to the special benefits that refugees are entitled to. Cuban entrants have had other special privileges as well; since 1966, for example, the Attorney General has had discretionary power to guarantee permanent residency to any Cuban who has been in the United States for a year, including those on visitor's visas who have overstayed the period delineated in their visas.

There have been, since the revolution, three basic waves of Cubans coming to the United States. These groups tend to differ from one another in their opinions and values and have different acculturation experiences, depending partly on when and why they emigrated from Cuba, and partly on their reception in the U.S.

According to U.S. Immigration Support, for many Cubans, reaching U.S. soil is highly desired. Many individuals seek political freedom and a democratic form of government. Some Cubans also seek to live in a land of capitalism where there are fewer restrictions placed on individuals and more opportunities. Individuals living in Cuba who are against the Castro regime are not free to express themselves and their lives may be threatened if they dare to speak out or to assemble anti-Castro groups in their homeland. Many Cubans have family already in the United States, and are looking to join them. Sometimes they turn to smugglers, who can charge thousands of dollars, or they may resort to making homemade boats and even rafts for the 90 mile journey from Cuba to Florida. Others fly to another country such as Mexico, and try to enter the United States from another border. The journey to the United States is often dangerous. Unfortunately, children and adults sometimes end up losing their lives in their efforts to reach American soil.

In the summer of 1994, there was a drastic wave of over 30,000 Cubans that tried to enter the United States. As a result, the U.S. and Cuban government tried to work out an immigration agreement. Cuba agreed to do a better job of patrolling their seas to prevent Cubans from leaving their country. If they were not successful in reaching Florida soil and were intercepted by the United States Coast Guard, who is responsible for overseeing America’s seas and shores, the Cuban government also agreed that there would be no reprisal against the Cubans who were returned. However, in reality Cubans that are sent back to Cuba after unsuccessfully trying to immigrate to the United States usually face some kind of punishment by the Cuban government such as imprisonment. The general rule is that once an individual reaches American soil and is out of American waters, they are allowed to remain in the U.S. This controversial policy is often referred to as the “wet foot, dry foot policy.” However, there are some exceptions to this rule and not all Cubans who are intercepted at sea before reaching American soil are returned to Cuba. For example, a Cuban who is fleeing from political persecution may be allowed to resettle in another country besides the United States or even possibly in the United States if their lives are at risk in Cuba.

In 1994, the U.S. set a quota of 20,000 immigrant visas annually for Cubans. Of this number, 5,000 come from a lottery system. This special lottery administered by American officials in Havana gives Cubans permanent U.S. residency. However, it has not been done on annual basis since its implementation in 1995. To gain a visa from this special lottery is highly desired by Cubans since those selected are entitled to a Green Card and work assistance in the United States. In addition, children of the winners of the lottery are allowed to enroll in the public school system. One of the biggest incentives is that lottery winners may be eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship within five years of winning the lottery. However, there are some requirements as to who can apply for the lottery. Eligible applicants must be between 18 and 55 years old and have a minimum of a high school education. Eligible individuals must also have been employed for the past two years. After winning the lottery, applicants are required to pass an immigration visa interview as part of the screening process. The interview is conducted by the U.S. Cuban Interests Section in Havana and the applicant must also submit medical records and any criminal records. The purpose of the screening process is to ensure that the applicant will not become a burden to the United States government. Lottery winners are entitled to bring their spouse and children under 21 years of age to the United States.

 

Why Cubans have access to immigration visas and Mexicans do not

 

Why does the United States government reach out to Cubans to enable their entry into the United States and at the very same time, the United States government puts up a border fence to prevent the entry of Mexicans?

 

The only viable answer: Cubans vote Republican and Mexicans vote Democrat.

 

Since President Kennedy, the Republican Presidents: Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush have nurtured the Florida Cuban community in partnership with savvy Cuban American Republican congressional members to obtain direct assistance in facilitating the ease of entry for Cuban immigrants. Operation Pedro Pan, the Mariel boatlifts and the "Wet Foot, Dry Foot" policy were magnificent programs facilitating Cuban immigrants entering the United States.

 

It is the tenacity and diligence of the Cuban American Republican congressional members for being steadfast in advocating immigration programs and services to serve the Cuban community in Miami, Florida and surrounding areas and the payback for Republicans has been Cuban votes.

 

The mirror opposite is the Congressional Hispanic Caucus dominated by the Puerto Ricans and more concerned with obtaining $7.3 billion in health programs for Puerto Rico than concerned in obtaining expedited immigration processing and immigration reform.

 

If Mexican American congressional members instead of silence as their mantra were instead advocates for immigration reform, the dominant Mexican American community would not have to take a back seat to the needs of Puerto Ricans and Cubans.

 

With the 2008 presidential election, Florida Democrats did carry the state for Barack Obama but the Obama emphasis on immigration has been directed to deport undocumented Mexicans and thus services to the Mexican community regarding immigration services have been thwarted.

 

As for Marco Rubio, the viability of his election on the 2012 Republican national ticket will never materialize. 

 

As for Obama, there is no enthusiasm from Mexican Americans to vote for him in 2012. Obama promised immigration reform in the first year of his presidency and failed to make good his promise. In the second year, Obama again failed. Obama then proceeded to deport 1,000,000 undocumented Mexicans and then lied he had no alternative but to uphold the law. The payback for this will be Mexican Americans will not vote for Obama in 2012 and without Mexican American votes, Obama will not be re-elected.

 

As disappointed as we are with the lack of immigration reform, there is a long litany of failures that  have caused the demise of the United States of America.

 

Hispanic News, Latino News, New Mexico News, Solidarity USA, and Jon Garrido News have begun to identify these failures to build consensus to get rid of Obama and his White House staff for failing to provide fiduciary leadership for all Americans. Each website has a section "The Failed Presidency of Barack Hussein Obama" that documents Obama's failed presidency.

 

The 2012 presidential election is up for grabs and in early 2012, the above websites will ask Mexican Americans and other Hispanic democrats to vote for someone but it will not be Obama. 

 

Jon Garrido

A proud 5th generation Mexican American