El Paso diocese prepares for wave of Cuban immigrants

El Paso diocese prepares for wave of Cuban immigrants

The first wave of what could become thousands of Cuban refugees have
begun arriving in El Paso and across the border in Ciudad Juarez,
Mexico. Two planes with at least 150 Cubans are expected to arrive in
Juarez daily, resulting in about 3,500 or more refugees who need
assistance to get to their final destinations.
BY MARIA CORTES GONZALEZ
El Paso Times

EL PASO, TEXAS
The first wave of what could become thousands of Cuban refugees have
begun arriving in El Paso and across the border in Ciudad Juarez,
Mexico, as relations between the United States and Cuba continue to
normalize and Cubans fear losing their special status as immigrants,
officials said.

The El Paso Times reports a group of more than 200 Cuban migrants
arrived Monday in Juarez on two flights from Panama, Mexico’s foreign
ministry said, and all of them will ultimately make their way to El Paso.

Officials with the El Paso’s Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Services said
Wednesday that two planes with at least 150 Cubans are expected to
arrive in Juarez daily, resulting in about 3,500 or more refugees who
need assistance to get to their final destinations.

Melissa Lopez, executive director of Diocesan Migrant and Refugee
Services, said many Cubans are leaving their country, fearing the Cuban
Adjustment Act of 1966 will end.

“Now that Cuban diplomatic relations in the United States have improved,
people are scared that they are going to repeal the Cuban Adjustment
Act. The Cuban Adjustment Act allows Cubans to apply for residency one
year after they have been paroled or admitted to the United States. They
are really scared that they will do away with the law and if they do,
they will get stuck living in a very oppressive country,” Lopez said.

In early 2015, Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro announced that
the countries would restore diplomatic relations — relations that had
been severed in 1961. Obama visited Cuba in March, taking a step further
toward normalization.

However, the U.S. trade embargo requires congressional approval to be
lifted and experts say that is unlikely to happen soon.

After arriving in Juarez, Cuban migrants cross the border and are taken
to the Houchen Community Center for registration and processing. An
estimated 300 people were processed from Monday to Wednesday, including
men, woman and children, officials said.

On Wednesday afternoon, nearly all of the 50 Cubans outside the center
were talking on their cellphones, calling relatives in the United States
or Cuba.

After processing, the migrants are then taken to centers such as the San
Pablo Lutheran Church, officials said. Migrants eventually will be sent
to places like Denver, Michigan, Florida and other destinations of their
choosing.

At the centers, they get a room that houses up to four people as they
await the next step in their journey.

Some 10 percent to 15 percent might not be able to continue without some
assistance and will stay in the El Paso area, officials said.

The Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Services is the only agency in El Paso
that can aid the Cubans with the Refugee Cash Assistance Program, a
federally funded program that can help with cash, completion of the Work
Authorization application and employment services.

Lopez stressed that the organization might become overwhelmed quickly
because of the influx of Cubans and the limited amount of funds.

“We are funded based on the three-year average of Cubans served. Three
years ago we saw 60 Cubans. Last year we served 100 Cubans, and there
are other refugee families that are eligible aside from Cubans,” she said.

Lopez could not say how many Cubans her office could assist, but she did
say she recommends they apply for the benefits in their destination
cities because the program is available throughout the country.

“Cities that have a larger number of refugees like Houston will have a
lot more resources and more ability to do more things,” she said.

El Paso Catholic Diocese Bishop Mark J. Seitz said he is frustrated with
the lack of communication from government officials on the arrival of
the Cuban refugees. In an agreement between Panama and Mexico, Panama is
flying thousands of U.S.-bound Cubans to Mexico after being stranded in
Central American for weeks or months due to closed borders.

“There has been no official communication. Most of our word that we
received is from the refugees themselves,” he said.

“What happens once they are left at the bridge, people who have never
been in this country, who have little to no resources, being dropped off
on our streets with no place to go and nothing to eat and no way to get
a change of clothes? We’re concerned about them and we think it’s the
government’s responsibility, especially the federal government, to
communicate with us about these people and in some way to assist,” Seitz
said.

Similar to a couple of years ago when Central American immigrants were
being processed in El Paso, Annunciation House and other shelters are
relying on other organizations to help provide shelter to the Cubans.

Pastor Karl Heimer of San Pablo Lutheran Church was one of the pastors
who opened the church doors to about 80 Cuban immigrants Tuesday.

Heimer said many of the immigrants are educated Cubans, many in their
late 20s and older, who want to find employment in the United States.

“These are people who want to find jobs and can accomplish it,” he said.

Source: El Paso diocese prepares for wave of Cuban immigrants | In Cuba
Today – www.incubatoday.com/news/article77419992.html