The Unfair Treatment of Haitian Refugees compared to their Cuban Counterparts.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there are more refugees today than ever before—and more than half of them are believed to be children. Most of these people have left their homes in search of better living conditions and economic opportunities. This is especially true for Cuban and Haitian refugees. Living in a forever-changing world, we have to start rethinking our old immigration policies to better respond to the growing number of people being displaced, and also take into consideration the issues that have created the high volume of refugees worldwide. Both Cubans and Haitians have taken to the high seas in the wake of political and economic instability, hoping to reach the shores of Florida, however they have been subject to very differential treatment.
Cubans escaping the hardships of daily life in Cuba due to the decades-long U.S-imposed embargo have long benefited from an immigration policy that allows them to remain in the United States with the possibility to become U.S. citizens. The Cuban adjustment act of 1966 provided an easy route for Cuban citizens to gain a …show more content…
It is imperative that we demand that elected officials take steps to respect and protect individuals who become refugees, while also making changes to old immigration policies that have proven to be ineffective. Why is it that Haiti, just like Cuba was politically unstable, endured economic hardships due to the U.S.—imposed embargo, experienced one of the worst natural disasters of our time, and yet can’t benefit from U.S. immigration policies and/or foreign policies that contribute to helping it’s people? It makes you question if there is any innate ethnic and/or racial bigotry rooted into the United States’ immigration
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there are more refugees today than ever before—and more than half of them are believed to be children. Most of these people have left their homes in search of better living conditions and economic opportunities. This is especially true for Cuban and Haitian refugees. Living in a forever-changing world, we have to start rethinking our old immigration policies to better respond to the growing number of people being displaced, and also take into consideration the issues that have created the high volume of refugees worldwide. Both Cubans and Haitians have taken to the high seas in the wake of political and economic instability, hoping to reach the shores of Florida, however they have been subject to very differential treatment.
Cubans escaping the hardships of daily life in Cuba due to the decades-long U.S-imposed embargo have long benefited from an immigration policy that allows them to remain in the United States with the possibility to become U.S. citizens. The Cuban adjustment act of 1966 provided an easy route for Cuban citizens to gain a …show more content…
It is imperative that we demand that elected officials take steps to respect and protect individuals who become refugees, while also making changes to old immigration policies that have proven to be ineffective. Why is it that Haiti, just like Cuba was politically unstable, endured economic hardships due to the U.S.—imposed embargo, experienced one of the worst natural disasters of our time, and yet can’t benefit from U.S. immigration policies and/or foreign policies that contribute to helping it’s people? It makes you question if there is any innate ethnic and/or racial bigotry rooted into the United States’ immigration