Scores of Cuban migrants have crossed overland from Mexico to Texas in recent months amidst fears that a detente between Havana and Washington will see an end to the privileged position of Cuban citizens have coming into the United States.
They are coming into Texas via the Santa Fe International Bridge that connects with Ciudad Juarez on the Mexican side with El Paso in Texas.
The more than 10,000 Cubans who had been stuck in limbo across Central America after Nicaragua in November shut its borders to them last year are now heading towards the United States after a deal to fly them from Central America to the Mexican border city.
To cope with the wave of Cuban migrants, local volunteers have come together to set up a shelter for those crossing the border.
Cuban migrant, Glay, told Reuters she has been treated well since stepping into the United States.
“They (U.S. officials) have treated us well, from arriving at immigration to the church. I’m very happy,” she said.
Under arrangements stemming from the Cold War era, Cuban migrants receive special treatment on reaching the United States. The “wet-foot, dry-foot” policy allows Cubans who set foot on U.S. soil to stay, while those captured at sea are sent back, making Texas a popular crossing point.
Many Cuban migrants passed through are expected to continue onto Florida to reunite with family members.
“Helping the people of Cuba to cross the border between Mexico and El Paso, Ciudad Juarez and El Paso. As they have no place they arrive here and then they emigrate onwards to where they have family. Here they are received for one night and we give them food, a place to sleep and the next day we point them to the destination they want to go to,” said Isaac Aguilar, a U.S. soldier volunteering at the shelter.
Cuban migrants coming in are eligible for the United States’ Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) which provides them with approximately $420 in financial support a month as their authorisation to stay in the country is processed.
After being stuck in limbo for months in Central America, the Cuban citizens are happy to have finally reached the United States.
“We weren’t treated as humans. Here it is totally different. I like it so much that I stayed in El Paso,” said migrant, Liubert Lopez.
The treatment of the Cuban migrants is a markedly different from others from Mexico and Central America who often face deportation after arriving in the United States.
According to the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966, Cuban citizens who reach the US on land are quickly allowed in and fast tracked to benefits, including permanent residency and citizenship.
(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016