Personal note: if you like what I have to say below, please sign onto my petition at MomsRising.org, and share on your Facebook page. ¡Gracias compatriotas! -Elisa
All of my life, I have felt connected to the plight of immigrants to the United States. Having grown up as the daughter of a Cuban father and Puerto Rican mother, I’ve seen the debate through a unique lens: that as a Spanish-speaking woman of color, and also one of immense privilege as an “immigrant”.
You see, Puerto Ricans enjoy U.S. citizenship as birth right. Cubans, thanks to a communist revolution on the island in 1959, are granted perks no other immigrant receives: automatic residency and a pathway to U.S. citizenship; food assistance (EBT); cash aid; public health care; free English classes and public transportation — if available! — to those classes.
Granted, the cash aid and EBT last for 8 months. But this is 8 months more than any immigrant — and many U.S. citizens for that matter! — receive.
And most importantly, relevant to this discussion, is that once Cubans land on U.S. soil — the “wet feet, dry feet” rule — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can’t touch them. The same cannot be said about anyone else, including Haitians who have made a similar perilous trek at sea to freedom, or Mexicans who have crossed the border — a common way that Cubans nowadays are entering (legally!)
Let’s be clear: I’ve had myriad family members helped by the U.S. government, and for that, I am so very grateful. I am not proposing that we take rights away from Cubans or treat them badly. I feel that the contributions of Cuban immigrants — like all other immigrants to the United States — have far outweighed any assistance by the government. This country is beautifully diverse and economically strong because of immigrant contributions! Don’t believe me, take a look at these stats on the disproportionate number of small businesses and Fortune 500 companies created by immigrants or their children — including the Daily Kos! :)
Recently, I was reminded of all of this as I am currently hosting a cousin who arrived from Cuba through Mexico. She is 24-years-old, very thoughtful and open-minded, and my children adore her. She’s been in the United States for 2.5 weeks and already she has made waves as an activist by posting this provocative piece on her Facebook page. Without further ado, I give you my cousin, Lilian Duran Perez (English translation below her post!):
Hermanos cubanos queria que hiciéramos una reflexión! No les parece que a veces nos creemos seres superiores, que nos lo merecemos todo? Nos pasamos la vida hablando mal del país donde nacimos, el país que nos dio educación (aquí en EU hay mucha gente que no sabe leer y escribir porque no pueden pagarla), donde pudimos atendernos en el médico cada vez que nos enfermamos (recién vi un articulo de un niño de 12 años que murio acá en EU porque su seguro no cubría el dentista y murió de una infección que le alcanzo el cerebro) con estos pequeños ejemplos quiero decir que ni aquello es tan malo ni esto es tan bueno.
Solo escucho decir LOS CUBANOS pasamos mucho para llegar aquí, LOS CUBANOS sufrimos, LOS CUBANOS...LOS CUBANOS...LOS CUBANOS... y le recuerdo cuantos cientos de miles de MEXICANOS también han muerto en la travesía de llegar a los EU, y así tantos y tantos otros latinoamericanos, TODOS SOMOS SERES HUMANOS en que continente nacimos no nos hace diferentes, que tenemos diferentes historias, es cierto, pero todos debiamos tener los mismos derechos! Nosotros llegamos y recibimos ayuda económica, medica, etc. al año y un día podemos hacernos residentes, saben cuantos latinos hay en este país que llevan mas de 20 años y son ilegales, saben cuantas madres con hijos americanos son deportadas y separadas de sus hijos, porfavor no creo que la nuestra sea la peor de las realidades solidaricemonos con el resto de inmigrantes y unamonos para que haya leyes iguales para todos. Ante todo SOMOS SERES HUMANOS no lo olviden!!
Translation: “Cuban brothers and sisters, I want us to reflect! Doesn’t it appear that at times we think we are superior and that we deserve everything? We go through life talking badly about the country that we were born, the country that educated us (here in the U.S. there are many people who can’t read or write because they can’t afford it), where we were able to see a doctor every time we were sick. (Recently I saw an article of a 12-year-old boy who died here in the U.S. because his insurance didn’t cover the dentist and he died of an infection to his brain.) These are some small examples to show that over there (Cuba) is not all that bad and here (the U.S.) is not all that good.
“I just want to say that we CUBANS go through a lot to come here, we CUBANS suffer, we CUBANS...we CUBANS...we CUBANS...and I want to remind you that there are hundreds of thousands of MEXICANS, also, who have died trying to arrive to the U.S., and that also many, many other Latin American people. WE ARE ALL HUMAN BEINGS no matter what continent we were born. It’s true that we have different histories, but we should all have the same rights!
“We arrive (to the U.S.) and receive economic aid, medical assistance, etc., and in one year and one day we can become residents. Do you know how many Latinos in this country have arrived 20 years ago and are still illegal? Do you know how many mothers with American children are deported and separated from their children? Please, I don’t think that our reality is any worse than these realities. We should be in solidarity with the rest of immigrants and unite to make sure the laws treat everyone the same. Most importantly, WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS — let’s not forget!!”
This brought a tear to my eye — not only because I have felt this way my entire life, a Cuban-American in Miami. But, also, this country is lucky to have this intelligent young woman.
If you agree, please join me to ensure that the opportunity to exist without fear of deportation and family separation is a right that should be extended to more people in our country. Thank you all!!