Cuban Refugees

I was really looking forward to Cuban food during our stay in Florida.  I didn't give a thought to seeing the effect of the recent changes in the US relations with Cuba.

Under the United States' longstanding "wet foot, dry foot" policy, Cubans fleeing to America may remain in the U.S., so long as they make it to shore. If intercepted at sea they are returned to Cuba. The first reminder of this policy and the decades long desperation of the Cuban population occurred while sitting in the patio of a small Cuban cafe.  A piece of paper, enclosed in plastic, explained the meaning of a boat sitting in the patio, which said:

On February 19, 2013 six brave young men left the shores of Cardenas, Cuba province of Matanta in this boat named Lorento.  As you can see the conditions under which these Cubans sailed were very precarious.  They, as many young Cubans, prefer to risk their lives than to live under a totalitarian communist regime.  Thank God these young men managed to tread American soil unlike many others that have died trying.

Today thousands of Cubans are very grateful to this great nation for hosting them and accepting them but especially for allowing them to live in freedom.

      

This boat was sturdier than many that make the crossing

 When we visited the Dry Tortugas, which will be a separate blog, we saw two primitive boats in the fort and learned from a ranger that many land on the national park, which is less patrolled than the coastline of the Keys.  In the last few weeks two boats made it, one with 19 men who landed in full view of the tourist ferry docked at the fort.  Apparently those on board the ferry sympathized with the refugees and cheered their success.  Park police corral the immigrants, holding them until the Coast Guard arrives.  We were told that the numbers have increased since the announcement of renewed relationship as the Cubans expect the wet foot, dry foot policy to end.  Given projected calm seas in a few days they expect more arrivals.

Examples of flimsy, homemade vessels used in crossing

A recent post in the Maritime Executive featured a story of the interception of a vessel carrying Cubans,  seven of whom were injured by gunfire as they prepared to leave Cuba.  It seems those with the more serious injuries benefited by being taken to the US for treatment and apparently would be able to remain.

http://maritime-executive.com/article/seven-cuban-migrants-on-raft-injured-by-gunfire

On two occasions, Cubans who were born in Cuba, have explained that they cannot travel to Cuba using their US passports but must pay a lot of money, obtain birth records etc. and obtain a Cuban passport.  I haven't looked but apparently our passports state place of birth, so the Cuban government would refuse entry for such individuals.  In both instances they told me that they will not travel back under those conditions.  A young woman told me yesterday that despite recent efforts "nothing has changed for the people of Cuba."  There are several Cuban restaurants nearby, including a seafood one where we had lunch and bought stone crab.  It will be fun to explore the cuisine and try the Cuban coffee we see advertised here widely.