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Purple: Assimilation
Blue: Social/Human Capital
Red: Social Construction

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Assimilation refers to the acclimation levels an immigrant has in a society. If a person “blends in” with the norm, that is seen as assimilated.

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Human capital is made up of the skills that a person has. Human capital focuses on the individual capabilities of a human and how those skills can correlate to a value.

Social capital refers to the connections you have between other people that can be used to your advantage.

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Societal acceptance of a truth based on overarching opinions rather than truth. Module three defines social constructions as accepted “realities” surrounding a topic that were created by society.

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Have you seen the people around you assimilate to you? How has your culture impacted the people around you?

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Have you seen the people around you assimilate to you? How has your culture impacted the people around you?

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"I have noticed that my Husband has changed a bit in order to get along with my family. They love him, but he has had to come out of his shell a little bit. We are loud, he has had to change a bit. I have also seen my close friends and community learn more about Cuba because of me. I love telling my story and talking about my culture to my close friends. They are very loving and appreciative of what I have to say. Not to mention they now ask me to cook for them because Cuban food is so good. I think I have changed more than those around me have changed, but I do see my impact here and there."

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How has your life changed since moving here? Has it changed?

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How has your life changed since moving here? Has it changed?

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"I would not be who I am today if I had not moved to America. I am able to pursue my passion in art and I have found my love here. Cuba was beautiful in its own ways, but I think the changes that have happened are good. I am and will always be Cuban, but now I have more opportunities. I learned to ignore and push past any ugly opinions of me. I have made Lubbock my home in the way that feels right to me. My life has changed because I have grown as a person, but I do not think I have left my roots."

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Do people often ask you about your culture or your home? 

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Do people often ask you about your culture or your home? 

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On a daily basis, not really. I do not hide my Cuban heritage at all, but I do not discuss it often. The conversations often acknowledge I am from Cuba and then they move on. Every so often people will ask very stereotypical questions. I think I prefer the first if I am being honest. I no longer need to introduce myself to my close friends and they know me well so the topic is not as common anymore.

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Migration out of Cuba has become increasingly difficult with the political unrest and change. Cuban immigration has been increasing for years. My friend was able to immigrate years ago before border issues began to worsen. When you look at the situation now, there is an influx of people leaving Cuba to America by any means necessary. According to the website I will link below, over 1,000 migrants have been returned to Cuba. I wanted to include this information because my interviewee mentioned how her story is different to many others. I wanted to provide more insight to the topic of Cuban immigration to America.

https://www.wola.org/analysis/cuban-migration-is-changing-us-must-note/#:~:text=So%20far%20in%202022%2C%20861,and%2043%20by%20the%20Bahamas.

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Immigration policies have long been a sore point in the U.S.-Cuba relationship.

Since the 1960's, the United States has maintained a preferential relationship with Cuban citizens and facilitated a direct path to permanent residency. The Cuban Adjustment Act, effective since November 2, 1966, allows Cuban natives or citizens who have been physically present in the United States for at least a year to apply to become lawful permanent residents. This fast-track path to permanent residency-in addition to Cubans wanting to flee the country for political and economic reasons-has led to mass migration of Cubans to the U.S.

After the 1959 Cuban revolution, approximately 1.4 million people fled to the United States, the largest migrant flow in the Caribbean country's history. Since then, Cubans have remained one of the top populations of migrants to reach the U.S. A number of tragic incidents involving Cubans trying to reach the U.S. by sea led President Clinton to announce that Cubans interdicted at sea would be sent to the U.S. Naval Base in Guantánamo. It was then that the so-called wet foot/dry foot policy was born, which granted Cubans who reached U.S. soil by foot, the right to stay and get on a fast track to citizenship. On paper, the policy aimed at discouraging people from taking the risky journey by sea. Under an accord signed in September 1994, the United States agreed to legally admit at least 20,000 Cubans-not including immediate relatives of U.S. citizens-per year and Cuba pledged to prevent further irregular departures by rafters.

In 2007, in order to meet immigrant visa requirements under the US-Cuba migration accords, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services launched the Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program (CFRP) that allows family members of U.S. citizens and permanent legal residents to travel to the United States without having to wait for their immigrant visas to be granted. Once in the United States, CFRP program beneficiaries may apply for work permits while they wait to apply for lawful permanent resident status under the Cuban Adjustment Act.

Things changed in 2013.

Following the liberalization of rules that had restricted travel out of the island, the number of Cubans trying to reach the U.S. via Mexico and relying on the wet-foot/dry-foot policy increased. But, in the final days of his administration, President Obama abruptly put an end to this policy, a capstone to his two-year-old effort to re-establish relations with Cuba. This led to a sharp increase in Cubans seeking asylum, and deportation cases went from 388 in 2016 to 24,198 in 2019.

The situation took a further downturn in 2017, when under the Trump administration, the U.S. suspended visa processing at the Embassy in Cuba indefinitely and halted all consular services in response to the " Havana Syndrome," a "mysterious ailment" allegedly affecting embassy staff and their relatives. A preliminary report published by the CIA in February 2022 found that most cases were likely to have been caused by any foreign influence. The Embassy's closure has continued to be a detriment to the tens of thousands of Cuban immigrants who continue to await their visas to reunite with their families in the U.S.

Toward the end of 2021, the Biden administration reinstated the "Remain in Mexico" policy under court orders, promptly restarting the return of U.S.-bound asylum seekers to Mexico to wait for a resolution of their case in U.S. immigration courts. Throughout 2022, Cubans continue to be among the top nationalities enrolled in the Remain in Mexico program, alongside nationals from Nicaragua, Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador. Because of the difficulties in accessing the U.S. asylum system and in reaching the U.S.-Mexico border as a result of the increased migration enforcement in Mexico, many Cubans are also opting to seek protection in Mexico. In 2021, Mexico's refugee agency, COMAR, received 8,319 asylum requests from Cubans, up from 5,725 in 2020, and granted asylum in 69 percent of the cases, an increase in approval rates as compared to previous years. As many as 2,004 Cubans requested asylum in Mexico in the first two months of 2022 alone.

The continued migration flows of Cubans, both to the U.S. and Mexico, highlight the need for effective pathways for legal migration. Their unique standing within the U.S. immigration system should be a tool to provide stability and security for those choosing to leave their home country-not an additional barrier to their safety.

Who is Migrating and Why

According to an analysis by the Cuba Study Group, increasing numbers of people between 20 and 40 years of age, and women are the ones making up the bulk of those migrating

This raises concerns over the lack of caretakers for aging populations with a significant number of elderly Cubans left without family members on the island to care for them, according to the last ENEP survey. Elderly single-person households rose from 12.6 percent in 2012 to 17.4 percent in 2019, and as women continue to be the main source of care for the elderly, their exit will have important implications for the future of this population. It is important to note that within Cuban society, emigration is also seen as one of the main sources for survival. As strict limits on remittances from the U.S. remain in place, this survival strategy will be challenged.

The largest migration waves of Cubans have coincided with moments of crisis in the country's economy and deteriorating standards of living, conditions that are present once again. The island is currently experiencing the worst economic and humanitarian crisis since the 1990s, made worse by the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite significant levels of vaccination and stabilizing COVID-19 cases, the decreasing resources and medical supplies coupled with significant episodes of social unrest continue to push Cubans to leave the island. U.S. restrictions on remittances and people-to-people travel continue to impact what was once a burgeoning private sector. In 2020, the Cuban economy shrank 11 percent, and inflation in 2021 reached 71 percent as a result of the process of currency reunification.

One of the hardest hit sectors remains the tourism industry, which accounts for 10 percent of the country's GDP, and is a critical source of revenue for the government for purchasing food and medicine internationally. Cuba kept its borders largely shut until November of 2021, and has not seen the necessary bounce-back of the industry to move beyond the economic obstacles of the last years. This, coupled with the difficulties of production during the pandemic-which is, in turn, compounded by the U.S. embargo and additional sanctions-has deepened the lack of basic necessities for Cubans. As the economic and humanitarian crisis deepens with little hope for relief, Cubans feel forced to look for stability elsewhere.

Reaching the U.S. Border

For many years, Cubans began their journey to the U.S. border in South America. Guyana was and continues to be a frequent starting point as it is the only country in continental South America where they can be admitted without a visa. Things changed in November 2021, when Nicaragua lifted visa requirements for Cuban nationals, opening a new, and shorter, path to reach the U.S. The new route allowed people to avoid crossing the infamous Darrien Gap, a dangerous jungle that connects Colombia and Panama. As many as 130,000 people, including 15,000 Cubans crossed the Darien Gap in 2021, according to figures from the Panamanian National Border Services (Senafront), reported in local media. This represented a sharp rise from the around 1,000 Cubans who attempted the same journey in 2016. Notwithstanding the visa waiver for Cubans to enter Nicaragua, new transit visas required by Costa Rica and Panama have posed additional challenges for travelers.

In addition, attempting to reach the U.S. by sea continues to be increasingly challenging. In response to the unrest in Cuba last July, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, released a statement stressing that any migrant intercepted at sea would not be permitted to enter the United States. According to recent figures by the U.S. Coast Guard, 852 Cubans have been intercepted at sea since October 2021, compared to 839 in the entire 2021 fiscal year.

Cuban authorities confirmed that 1,255 migrants returned to Havana in 2021 in bilateral operations coordinated with the United States, Mexico, the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas. So far in 2022, 861 Cubans have been returned, 345 by the U.S. Coast Guard, 473 by Mexico and 43 by the Bahamas.

Total Cubans Repatriated by the U.S. Coast Guard After Being Intercepted at Sea
Data provided by the U.S. Coast Guard and compiled by WOLA.
How U.S. Policy Can Alleviate Irregular Migration Flows to the Island

The embargo that has been in place over the last 60 years has undoubtedly exacerbated the conditions under which Cubans feel forced to migrate. The current humanitarian crisis on the island is worsened by the inability to import basic necessities, including food and medicine, under the onerous sanction apparatus the U.S. has imposed on Cuba. Humanitarian assistance is extremely limited to those that understand and can operate under the delicate Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) restrictions in place, and in many cases, their ability to do so is subject to bureaucratic challenges to obtain the necessary permits and equipment to send to Cuba.

In addition, Cuba's designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SSOT), announced by the Trump administration in his last days in office and which has not been reversed by the Biden administration, creates further obstacles to purchasing or receiving these goods. Remittances and travel to the island, which are historically the most prominent ways those outside the country could support their families and loved ones, has also been severely curtailed since the Trump administration's decisions to rollback on Obama-era policies.

The closure of the U.S. Embassy in Havana also meant that the 20,000 visas allotted to Cubans were continuously underused. Cubans looking for U.S. consular services were referred to the U.S. Embassy in Guyana, creating additional obstacles to those looking for legal pathways to migration. As a result, many decided to travel irregularly to solicit asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border, as detailed above. As the rise in numbers of Cuban migrants surged through more traditional irregular routes, so did the risk of being exploited by smugglers and organized crime groups along the way. Cubans in particular appear to be at an increased risk of extortion and kidnapping as they are thought to have U.S.-based family members with the resources to pay ransom.

To alleviate these risks and minimize irregular migrations flows from Cuba to the U.S, the Biden administration should regularize consular services in a timely manner. The recent announcement of restarting services in the U.S. Embassy in Havana should be the first step of many in providing regular and reliable services to those seeking to emigrate to the U.S. The Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program should also be used to its fullest extent.

Outside of actions that relate explicitly to migration policies, steps to normalize relations between the two countries would also go a long way to mitigate the humanitarian and economic situation that has forced many Cubans to leave. The administration should suspend U.S. regulations that prevent food, medicine, and other humanitarian assistance from reaching the Cuban people and remove all restrictions on family and non-family remittances. Additionally, it should eliminate Trump-era policies that restrict travel to Cuba, since they make it more difficult for Cuban-Americans to visit and reunite with family on the island, particularly for those with families outside of Havana, and limit mutually beneficial dialogue between the U.S. and Cuban people.

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Cuban Migration is Changing, the U.S. Must Take Note

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Cubans are privileged among other groups of Latin American migrants because they have a viable migration channel through current U.S. visa policies. However, without a clear timeline to restart and fully regularize consular services, it will continue to add further strain on an already overwhelmed and flawed system, and to push Cubans to follow irregular and dangerous methods of migration.

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Social capital refers to the connections you have between other people that can be used to your advantage. Human capital is made up of the skills that a person has. Have you seen privilege give others a leg up with this?

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Social capital refers to the connections you have between other people that can be used to your advantage. Human capital is made up of the skills that a person has. Have you seen privilege give others a leg up with this?

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After explaining the concept of capital this was her response: "I have seen this more than I ever wished to. Something as simple as my name has been a reason for not getting a job. When I was applying to colleges I had to worry about my ethnicity and history holding me back. I had the grades, but I also had the label of an immigrant. An immigrant from Cuba too! This is something I had to adjust to and I do not think it would have been as easy if I had not had people with me."

When answering this question, my friend’s attitude shifted. While she was happy to reminisce about home and the story of her journey here, when I brought up this topic it was not as easy for her to answer. I noticed this and did not ask too many probing questions as I did not want to push past her boundaries.

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Is there anything about America that has been hard to get used to? What about things you may miss from home?

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Is there anything about America that has been hard to get used to? What about things you may miss from home?

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“When I think about my life now and how wonderful it is, I rarely think about Cuba. My family is here now and it feels like home. I have been here (in America) for almost a decade. When I first came here I can remember people having a hard time with my accent. That is something that stays with me. I know that my story is very different to others, but that was something that was difficult to get used to. The styles I saw in school as well. I did not dress the same as others because we did not have as much money and I was left with the outdated styles of Cuba at first. I feel that I was able to adjust quickly because I had such a strong community. What do I miss from home? The food.”

My friend naturally has a positive outlook and this is evident in this. I can remember when she first moved here she really was happy for the new opportunity. She joked about missing the food and even poked fun at some of the food that is common here. She is happy here though, and I love that she is able to share this.

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Do you feel racism has an impact on your chance of success here?

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Do you feel racism has an impact on your chance of success here?

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“Yes, I do. I have talked about how my situation is different from others. I came to America with a lot of support. I had people behind me and around me that helped me understand where I was. While I had support, I also dealt with a lot of judgment. Like I said earlier, my name alone is something that can stop me from being chosen for a job. I had to work very hard to get the chance to move to America, and once I was here I found myself learning to ignore a lot of hate. I do not like to focus on it though. I like to focus on what I have accomplished despite all of that.”

What she is referencing here is her happy marriage and her success in finding work pursuing art.

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What is life like in Cuba compared to here? How do the norms differ?

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What is life like in Cuba compared to here? How do the norms differ?

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Cuba is an entirely different world than America. Even when you only look at the appearance of Cuba, it is very opposite. I lived in Vedado which was very close to the capital. This is different from Lubbock. In Cuba there were always people walking on the streets and it had a bigger city feel. I think people talk to each other more there. Here people are not as friendly. The buildings were old, I thought some were beautiful but some were falling apart.  My life in Lubbock now is a little quiet. Compared to life in Cuba, I feel here people keep to themselves more. The cultures are different, but also I feel Lubbock is a bit of a small town.

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Statistics on Cuban immigration to America (from 2016)

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Statistics on Cuban immigration to America (from 2016)

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How did having a community help you with your transition when you moved here?

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How did having a community help you with your transition when you moved here?

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"I was lucky to walk into such a welcoming community when I came here. Our family was taken care of and I knew we had full support behind us. I know that not everyone has the same experience. I do miss the community I had back in Cuba. My family is large and we all took care of each other there. We lived close by and spent most of our time together. We knew all the secrets of our neighborhood. While I feel welcomed in my new community and am constantly finding my way, I sometimes miss the familiarity and confidence of home"

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I have known my friend for so many years and gotten so comfortable with her that I feel I have gotten comfortable with her. I was so influenced by my own privilege that I did not take the time to consider the hardships she may have faced. After this interview I was able to look outside of our friendship and understand her on another level. This class has given me many new terms to look at the world through as well as facilitating my understanding of other cultures. I have been able to take the concepts from this class and check my privilege. I learned the struggles that immigrants face as well as elements that can support them. I recognize that some of these questions were uncomfortable to ask, but I feel that I understand more now that i have had misconceptions and questions cleared up.

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I have noticed that views toward Cuba are constantly shifting. How has this change in social construction impacted your time here?

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I have noticed that views toward Cuba are constantly shifting. How has this change in social construction impacted your time here?

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"Even in more recent times I have not been too impacted by these opinions. Unless I tell people, the assumption made is not that I am from Cuba. I get more questions regarding topics of Mexican immigration and Mexico. My Cuban “identity “ is often not recognized unless I bring it up."

Overall this question and answer gave more insight to the generalization that occurs for the Hispanic population.