THE CUBAN REFUGEE
1979 STATISTICS
(covers many previous years)
THE CUBAN REFUGEE IN 1979: A REBUTTAL Prepared by
Metropolitan Dade County, Florida in conjunction with Dade
County Public Schools, and the
Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services
June 12, 1979
THE CUBAN REFUGEE IN 1979: A REBUTTAL
The House Appropriations Committee outlined several issues
in its report, which formed the basis for its rationale for
accelerating the phase down of
the Cuban Refugee Assistance Program.
In fairness to the program, and to provide a clear and
accurate picture
of its social economic, and fiscal aspects, Metropolitan
Dade County, the
Dade County Board of Public Instruction and the Florida
Department of Health
and Rehabilitative Services have aggregated data which we
believe clarify
and, in some cases, dispute the issues raised by the
committee. We respectfully request that this information be
given positive consideration prior to the final acceptance
of the Appropriations Committee Report.
Issue 1: Phase Down
In 1977, the House-Senate Conference Committee on
Appropriations for Labor/HEW developed a six-year phase out
plan for the Cuban Refugee Program which mandated declining
percentages of Federal participation in the program.
The phase
out was broken down as follows:
Fiscal Years:
1978, 95%
1979, 85%
1980, 75%
1981, 60%
1982, 45%
1983 25%
This proposal was backed by the current Administration, and
agreed to by the Florida Department of Health and
Rehabilitative Services, Dade County Board of Public
Instruction, and Metropolitan Dade County. Since the
above agreement was reached all the respective parties have
carefully and deliberately developed the necessary fiscal
tools to implement the phase-out without adversely affecting
the client population. The proposal made by the full
committee cannot be considered and "acceleration" of the
phase-out, but the complete elimination of the existing
program with total disregard for the existence of a
phase-out plan.
The impact of this decision would be as follows:
FY 1979 (Current)
Federal Participation Aid to Families with Dependent
Children $6,630,988
"
"
Supplementary Security Income/ Medicaid $34,178,518
""
General Assistance/Health $4,478,460
TOTAL
$45,287,966
Clients of Aid to Families with Dependent Children 6,000
" to
Supplementary Security Income/Medicaid 27,000 (Including
6,000 AFDC participants.)
Clients of General Assistance/Health 3,600
TOTAL 30,600
FY 1980 (Appropriations Committee Proposal)
Federal Participation of Aid to Families with Dependent
Children -0-
" " of Supplementary Security
Income/Medicaid
" " Of General
Assistance/Health
-0-
TOTAL
-0-
Clients of Aid to Families with Dependent
Children 6,000 (Assumed by State)
Clients of Supplementary Security
Income/Medicaid 27,000 (Assumed by State,
Including
6,000 AFDC Part)
Clients of General
Assistance/Health -0-
TOTAL 27,000 (At a cost of
over $20 million to the State)
*Since neither the State of Florida nor Metropolitan Dade
County has an
ongoing General Assistance Program, 3,700 individuals who
are elderly, disabled, and ineligible to receive social
security will suddenly find themselves without any means of
support.
Issue: 2: "The Cuban population has been well assimilated
into American
Society."
A recent survey conducted by Metropolitan Dade County's
Office of Latin
Affairs illustrates the following:
1. Over 40% of the Hispanics living in predominantly
Latin areas reported speaking "poor" or "no" English.
The assimilation process is prolonged in this local
environment where cultural traditions are maintained, and
local media, elections i.e., radio, newspaper, television,
are available in Spanish.
2. Over 40% of all Cubans currently living in Dade
County have previously resided in other areas in the United
States.
3. The Cuban population in Dade County is not
monolithic but of varied economic and social background. The
Cuban migration to the U.S. represents all elements of Cuban
society. It can be said that the Cuban population in
the U.S., and particularly in South Florida represents a
microcosm of the
Cuban nation. Therefore, the generally accepted fact
that all Cubans and Cuban-Americans are "well-off" is
totally fallacious. Since 1964, the exile community
has been representative of the lower socio-economic levels
with larger numbers of unskilled and poorly educated
families. It has been increasingly more difficult for
these individuals to "assimilate into the mainstream."
4. The problems described above are magnified when one
considers the current influx of Cuban Political Prisoners
and their families into this area.
These refugees who have spent numerous years in jail,
shut-off from family,
friends and any type of social interaction as we know it,
now face not only
the problems of acculturation, but also a major social,
psychological, and
economic reorientation to a free society. It is
expected that close to 12,000 political prisoners and their
families will arrive here within the
next calendar year. Given the aforementioned issues,
there will be
an increasing need to provide more and different types of
assistance to these
new refugees.
Issue 3: "The Average family income of Cuban-Americans
equals that of the general
public."
The Second Annual Report of Florida State Commission on
Hispanic Affairs, and Metropolitan Dade County's Latin
Profile provide the following information:
I. Total National Cuban population 689,000
Total Dade County Cuban
population 450,000
II. Median age U.S.
population 29.5
Median age Hispanic
population 22.1
Median age Cuban
population 36.5
Average age of Cuban
population in
Dade County 36-54
III. The Average family size in the State of Florida
3.25
The Average family size
of Hispanic population in the State of Florida
4.02
IV. National Employment and Income for Cubans
Since about 1979 there are consistent indications of a
decrease in Cuban Income and an increase in unemployment
levels: data shows that Cuban unemployment and personal
income has approximate or surpasses that of other Hispanic
groups and Blacks.
1. Unemployment Rate in Dade County
White 9.1%
Black 11.0%
Spanish American 11.2%
. Dade County; 1976 data; based on 1970 census
figures.
.. 85% of Spanish America in Dade are Cubans
... More than half of Cubans in U.S. live in Dade County.
2. Income of Persons of Spanish Origin 14 Years Old
and Over With
Income By Type of Spanish Origin and Sex, for the U.S.:
March 1976
1975 Median Income of Mexican: $4,475, Puerto Rican $4,871
& Cuban $5,183.
Percent With Income Below $5,000: Mexican 54.1%, Puerto
Rican 51.6% & Cuban 48.2%
1976 Median Income for Mexican $4,873, Puerto Rican $4,890,
Cuban $4,975 & Non-Hispanic $6,064.
Percent With Income Below $5,000: Mexican 51.1%, Puerto
Rican 50.9%, Cuban 50.1% & Non- Hispanic 43.7%
1977 Median Income for Mexican: $5,536, Puerto Rican $5,445,
Cuban $5,424 & Non-Hispanic $6,484
Percent With Income Below $5,000: Mexican 46.2%, Puerto
Rican 46.4%, Cuban 46.5% &
Non- Hispanic 41.7%
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population
Reports Series, P.20, Nos. 328, 310,
320.
3. Changes in National Hispanic Unemployment Rate: First
Quarter of 1979
First Quarter 1979: Mexican 8.1%, Puerto Rican 12.8% &
Cubans 9.7%.
First Quarter 1978: Mexican 10.1%, Puerto Rican 13.1% &
Cuban: 6.7%
Source: Noticias de la Semana: A news Summary for Hispanos:
U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Information,
Publications and Reports, Washington, D.C.
3. Changes in National Hispanic Unemployment Rate:
First Quarter of 1979
First Quarter 1979: Mexican 8.1%, Puerto Rican 12.8% &
Cuban 9.7%
First Quarter 1978: Mexican 10.1%, Puerto Rican 13.1% &
Cuban 6.7%
Source: Noticias de la Semana: A news Summary for Hispanos:
U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Information,
Publications and Reports, Washington, D.C.
V. Cubans Relatively Higher Education Level (as
compared to other
Hispanics)
Is Related to Levels of Income for the Cuban Entrepreneurs,
Business Officials, and Administrators.
- Only 9.1% of the former "Proprietors and
Professionals" in Cuba
are in the same occupational category in the U.S.
- 70.1% of the former "Proprietors and Professionals"
in Cuba are
in the "Operatives" category.
Source: State of Florida: Commission on Spanish Speaking:
First Annual Report, 1977, pp. 82, 87.
A composite can be developed from the above statistics which
describes the average member of the Cuban population as
having a median income below the national average, a median
age which is seven years older or more than the U.S.
population, has a larger family, and who requires more
members of that family to work in order to attain the median
income stated. Given the above data, it would appear
difficult to make a case that economic parity has been
achieved by the Cuban population.
Issue 4: "Over 700,000 Cubans have migrated to the U.S. of
whom less than 22,000 are
currently drawing State or local
welfare assistance."
There are 29,500 individuals in Dade County drawing State or
local assistance under the Cuban Refugee Program. Of
that number 3,663 individuals receive general
assistance. These individuals are not eligible for
existing State programs such as AFDC, SSI or Medicaid.
Following is a breakdown of general assistance recipients.
1,768 individuals who arrived prior to 10/1/78.
1,311 individuals who arrived after 10/1/78 (These
individuals arrived directly from Cuba)
584 individuals who arrived after 10/1/78
(Individuals who
have arrived from Spain and
other
countries)
3,663 receiving General Assistance
If the Cuban Refugee Program is ended 25,837 individuals
will remain eligible under existing programs, i.e. AFDC,
SSI, MEDICAID, at a cost of over $20 million
to the State. Currently, 3,663 individuals will be
left without any
assistance since a general assistance program does not exist
at either the
State or local level. In addition, any new arrivals of
Cuban political prisoners and their families (approximately
12,000 are expected in the next calendar year) will be
without support unless they are eligible for existing
programs.
Issue 5: "Of the 900 new arrivals so far in 1979, 48.6% were
joining family members already in this country."
As of June 8, 1979, 1,354 Cuban political prisoners and
their families have arrived in Dade County.
Approximately 90% of these individuals are requesting
assistance. Although many of the new arrivals may be
joining families
here, the formerly required affidavit of support has not
been an issue in
securing their release, therefore, a majority of new
arrivals are joining
families who are in need of or are receiving assistance
themselves.
In conclusion, it has been, and continues to be the policy
of the United States to provide a safe harbor for the
politically oppressed. In this particular case it was
United States foreign policy which allowed the first
"Freedom Flights," and it was the action of this
Administration which secured the release of the new arrivals
and their families from Cuba. It is unimaginable that
the humanistic concerns of this Congress and Administration
as well as the victory for human rights won by the release
of over 12,000 political prisoners and their families, could
be overrode by an unprecedented move on the part of this
committee that virtually eliminates a program created
specifically to address the needs of the Cuban Refugees.
Based on the information provided in this report, we
respectfully request the Committee members, and the House to
reconsider this drastic action.
End of Page
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