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DOCUMENT  0030


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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.


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