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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