Illegal Immigrants: Cuban vs. Mexicans

[Principessa]

Pardon my ignorance in asking these questions, but I am curious and confused. Why is it that if a person flees Cuba illegaly. in all manner of floating craft, and sets foot on US soil they are welcomed. Yet if a Mexican flees their country when they get here illegaly they are deported?

Does this go back to the Cuban Missile Crisis? Did we agree to accept Cubans who wished to defect just to piss off Fidel Castro?

What's the deal with Puerto Rico? They are represented in Congress by a Resident Commissioner who has a voice in the House of Representatives but no vote. :wtf1: Products made in Puerto Rico are Made in the USA.

As a minority I know there is always an in group to hate. Yet I have to admit I find it odd that we open our arms to Cubans, Vietnamese and Chinese Boat People, yet continue to bitch about Mexicans arriving illegaly. Heck we have even been accepting the African war orphans and survivors of Darfur. Usually America doesn't like to take in brown skinned people. :12:

I have attended town meetings in New Jersey and Georgia and I read the papers. I understand the immense strain illegal immigrants put on local economies. School districts and General Assistance (previously Welfare) are particularly hard hit.

I'm getting a bit tired of hearing how those people are stealing our jobs. What? Really? In the last 10 years I have lived in Massachussetts, New Jersey and Georgia and the one constant is that the Mexicans I see are doing the backbreaking, manual labor that whites, Asians and blacks wouldn't dream of doing for any price.

The last 5 years I was in central New Jersey the more noticeable recent minority groups were: Brazilian, Peruvian, Venezulean and Mexican. These groups tended to work the local mall food courts. Yes, even Panda Express. :tongue:

I know it's elitist; and I expect to be slammed hard for this; but as an American with two masters degrees I'm not really worried about a Mexican person coming here to take my job.

My point is, why are Mexicans the only people of color we won't accept with open arms?

 

[lucky8]

racist

 

[kalipygian]

Just don't try to get work as an airport screener if you speak any language other than Tagalog.:wink:

 

[JstZuri]

WOW, What school did you go to? And how did you graduate from high school? Not trying to be mean or anything but you need to stop. Why are you not "really worried about a Mexican person coming here to take my job?" Words of advice, everyone is replaceable at work. Don't let those papers fool you. You can and will be replaced by someone who will do your job for a lower wage.

 

[unabear09]

Pardon my ignorance in asking these questions, but I am curious and confused. Why is it that if a person flees Cuba illegaly. in all manner of floating craft, and sets foot on US soil they are welcomed. Yet if a Mexican flees their country when they get here illegaly they are deported? I guess it goes back to seeking political asilum. Most Cubans, Vietnamese, and Chinese escape their countries and claim they are escaping political or religious persecution.

Does this go back to the Cuban Missile Crisis? Did we agree to accept Cubans who wished to defect just to piss off Fidel Castro?

What's the deal with Puerto Rico? They are represented in Congress by a Resident Commissioner who has a voice in the House of Representatives but no vote. :wtf1: Products made in Puerto Rico are Made in the USA. The only thing that really comes to my mind is that Puerto Rico is considered a territory, and therefore has representation, yet no vote. I know that the people and gov't in PR want to be their own country under their own rule, but you know how our gov't is about gaining and keeping control over other people and other countries. Just think, everyone made the mistake of thinking that colonialism was a thing of the past. Another good example of this was Hawaii before it was recognized as a state. The US came in and took over the islands and over threw the monarchy and gov't years before WWII and did Hawaii the way they are doing PR.

As a minority I know there is always an in group to hate. Yet I have to admit I find it odd that we open our arms to Cubans, Vietnamese and Chinese Boat People, yet continue to bitch about Mexicans arriving illegaly. Heck we have even been accepting the African war orphans and survivors of Darfur. Usually America doesn't like to take in brown skinned people. :12: I want to add on a little something here.... look at the travesty that is Iraq. We go in, destroy their country for the good of the western world, and when these people try to flee from Iraq to the US, we turn them down.....only allow citizenship (don't quote me here) to a few hundred Iraqi citizens a year.

I have attended town meetings in New Jersey and Georgia and I read the papers. I understand the immense strain illegal immigrants put on local economies. School districts and General Assistance (previously Welfare) are particularly hard hit.

I'm getting a bit tired of hearing how those people are stealing our jobs. What? Really? In the last 10 years I have lived in Massachussetts, New Jersey and Georgia and the one consistent is that the Mexicans I see are doing the backbreaking, manual labor that whites, Asians and blacks wouldn't dream of doing for any price. Same here. I've never known a stereotypical 'lazy' Mexican. The Mexicans I have known and seen out working are some of the hardest working, most loyal people there are. I know I'm going to piss off a lot of people here, but from what I can tell and what I see and read, I think that white folks are shitting themselves in fear that they will have to share their power and money with 'persons of color.'

The last 5 years I was in central New Jersey the more noticeable recent minority groups were: Brazilian, Peruvian, Venezulean and Mexican. These groups tended to work the local mall food courts. Yes, even Panda Express. :tongue:

I know it's elitist; and I expect to be slammed hard for this; but as an American with two masters degrees I'm not really worried about a Mexican person coming here to take my job.

Although I haven't achieved the same level of education that you have njqt (yet), I share the same feelings you do about not worrying about a Mexican (or any other person of any other nationality) coming in and stealing a job from me. The way I see it is, the person that is most qualified should be the one that gets the job. Una

 

[midlifebear]

Lovely Woman: You're asking all the right questions and boy howdy, do I have a load of experience with regarding people who believe who is and who is not the politically correct immigrant welcome with the borders of the USA. I suppose the easiest answer with regard to Mexicans and Central American is that it's a class difference between the haves and have nots. The rich and the poor. The idea of building a fence along the US/Mexico border is somewhat ironic (not to mention just plain fucking dumb) in lieu of the Berlin Wall falling in the last decade.

However, to put things in a somewhat humorous, reverse-racist perspective I'm compelled to share the following. A friend and I made a mad dash to Tijuana one December 24th. He was interested in buying cheap crap as gifts for his family. I was just interested in going to a couple of my favorite places to eat and drink. It was cold. The streets were filled with people, but not many gringos. As we walked towards the intersection where there once was an arched sign that said "Welcome to the most visited city in the world." I stopped and bought a wallet. I asked the store clerk how was business and he replied, "There are too many fucking Mexican/Americans here today." And of course, he too was a Mexican/American; a 'Mericuhn citizen who lived within a mile of the border in San Ysidro and owned a tchtocka store business in Tijuana. There's something to be learned from that experience, but I've yet to put my finger on it.

But just to make things interesting, nowadays I make it a point of wearing my bright red remera (T-shirt) with the face of Eneresto "Ché" Guevara on it. It always pisses off the security screening people, but freedom of speech is freedom of T-shirt, as long as it has nothing profane printed on it.

EDIT: Oh, yeah, and what unabear09 wrote. Totally agree with that.

 

[transformer_99]

I think it has more to do with the politics of Communism vs Presidential Republic that has Cubans viewed as more welcome to stay than Mexicans. With Cubans it's a wet foot/dry foot thing that determines if they are allowed to stay or are deported. Both nationalities are required to come into the USA legally, but the first thing a Cuban will request is political asylum:

Right of asylum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As for the others, well the Chinese, that's communism vs democracy too.

 

[B_phe1249]

Hey dont blame the Cubans. Their elected officals have managed to fuck the system on their behalf better than any other. Perhaps when the Mexicans can import some scammer politicans they will do just as well.

Imagine fleeing a corrupt nation only to bring your corrupt ways with you... thats Miami and its Cuban population.

 

[Quite Irate]

No viable explanation has ever been offered as to why the U.S. Coast Guard constantly rounds up illegal Haitian immigrants and deports them without consideration, every time.

Basically, the U.S. ignores Mexican illegals because the U.S. government has a policy of propping up the current Mexican regime (whatever it happens to be at the time), and if it didn't the Mexican government would have to stop screwing over its citizens as much as possible or face revolution.

 

[EagleCowboy]

Usually America doesn't like to take in brown skinned people. :12:

That ain't no joke. America is *STILL* trying to get rid of us red skinned people, and we were here first!!

 

[Principessa]

An interesting side note, is that West New York, NJ has more Cuban residents, than the country of Cuba! :wtf2:


Blending Two Cities Into One

By JERRY CHESLOW
October 9, 2005

WORKING class grit and Manhattan glitz meet in West New York, where luxury homes and commercial buildings are being built on the western bank of the Hudson River. "We are really two cities," said Mayor Albio Sires, "and my challenge over the coming years is to bring them together as one community."

West New York, less than a mile from West 70th Street in Manhattan, as the crow flies, is one of the most densely populated municipalities in New Jersey. About 52,000 people live within its 1.3 square miles, and a population of illegal immigrants adds at least 20 percent, according to Mayor Sires (pronounced seer-REEZ). "Even illegals need schools, housing and health care," he said. "And we have to provide those services."

The median annual household income in West New York is below $40,000. Seventy percent of residents are renters, and more than 80 percent are Hispanic, according to the 2000 census data. Among the largest groups are Cubans, Colombians, Peruvians, Ecuadorians and Mexicans.

*SNIP*​

 

[dong20]

An interesting side note, is that West New York, NJ has more Cuban residents, than the country of Cuba! :wtf2:

Err, no. It doesn't. The population of Cuba is around 11.5 million and the last time I checked that's more than 52,000. Now, what did you really mean about NY?:biggrin1:

Cubans are made welcome (if they survive the trip is the ugly catch) primarily to spite Castro. Cubans are considered to be political refugees = welcome, whereas Mexicans are considered economic refugees = unwelcome.

Also, Cuban exiles have a perceived 'cache' that Mexicans (Haitians and others) don't. Yes it's racist, and it's wrong (and not quite that simple) but but that's the essence of it, IMO.

 

[dude252007]

If 30 million cubans or 30 million from anywhere then the U.S. would move to restrict just has was done to Chinese in late 1800s and early 1900s. The issue is the sheer volume of latinos coming into the U.S.

 

[MidwestGal]

well I guess I am a bit racist too. Sorry but I feel anyone who enters this country illegally should be deported. Why should they benefit from our tax dollars. If they follow the legal avenues to get her and have their green cards/visas and stuff I am fine with them being here.

I understand wanting a better life but why should it be at our taxpayer expense. Them taking our jobs, when most of our factories are relocating to other countries anyhow.

 

[marleyisalegend]

has anyone else noticed that the person who posted this insists that "mexicans are doing work asians, blacks, and whites are too lazy to do?" that sounds pretty racist to me to call someone lazy because of their color. to say the last the black race can't be called lazy, don't forget they worked for free for quite a few years

 

[midlifebear]

How about Cubans versus Mexicans versus old Nazis? My ex sister-in-law's family, including my ex sister-in-law were known (but now it's more or less no longer talked about and is very hush hush) as "bread and butter mormons." Her father was a previous high-ranking German SS officer in the Nationalist Socialist Workers Party with a young wife and two infant daughters. At the end of WWII in 1946, upon "renouncing" his affiliation with the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (basically, just signing a paper stating he was "forced" into military service and was unaware of committing any personal war crimes) Oscar and his fluffly blonde hausfrau also renounced their Catholic faith and embraced mormonism as a means of getting out of war-torn Germany. They were not alone in this. At the time, Salt Lake City had a well-known neighborhood called German Town around 8th South and 8th West where many earlier German immigrants were more than willing to sponsor these new "bread and butter" types to the USA.

Despite their "new" faith, Oscar and Charlotte had only changed their political allegiances for convenience. They were welcomed into the German/American community and by the mid 1950's no one seemed to regard them as anything more than just good ol' mormon converts living the saintly life in the Land of Zion. But Oscar and Charlotte, when pressed, will gladly pontificate about the virtues of ethnic nationalism, anti-antisemitism, why the State of Israel is a bad idea, and the sad fact that eugenics is considered "a bad thing." But they now enthusiastically wave the red/white/and blue at every opportunity, even though they are somewhat creaky in their late 80's. Oscar still subscribes to the Thule Society's publications (in German, of course) and reads everything cover-to-cover as if he were reading scripture.

My paternal grandmother was born somewhere in the Mexican State of Monterrey. She was passed from mormon family to mormon family from Mexico to Arizona and eventually ended up in Ewetaw. The family who legally adopted her did so because their church encouraged them to do so. However, if you directly asked her about her childhood she would gladly tell you how she was nothing more than an unpaid slave in her family's household, caring for her adoptive parents and all of her subsequent step-brothers and step-sisters. She was the first and oldest child.

As a Mexican, my grandmother made it here the old-fashioned way: it was before 1900 and the US government didn't really pay much attention to the minor movements of Mexicans or Americans back and forth across the border. Things became a bit more difficult with the addition of the 18th Amendment to the US Constitution that prohibited the consumption of alcohol in the land of the free and brave. Still, there was a time when Mexican citizens seeking residence in the USA had a well organized, US government-supported immigration system not unlike that at Ellis Island. Mexicans would apply for entry to the USA at any of the border cities of Tijuana, Nogales, Nuevo Loredo, Matamoros, endure a physical health inspection, prove they had a marketable skill, and voilá "Bienvido a los EE. UU." However, Mexico's (and other Central and South American countries') non-involvement in WWII helped to undo the casual, friendly immigration relations enjoyed primarily with California.

When my brother married his now (thank the gods) ex-wife, try to imagine the hubris my family endured from the exceptionally white German in-laws. The only thing that quelled the hatred and vile directed at my mother, father, and brother (never mind me, I was an out and flaming queen at the time) was that my brother and his then wife lucked out and had twin daughters. But as the twins grew older it was obvious that my paternal grandmother's genes had sullied the good blood lines of Oscar and Charlotte.

My nieces are reasonably well-educated and intelligent women; both became public school teachers. They, too, felt a bit rebuffed by their German grandparents, uncles, and aunts. So, imagine my personal joy when one of them moved to Tokyo and married a Japanese National (smart girl, her husband's family is a clan of old Japanese bankers). Her first child is due in about 12 days. Two years earlier, her sister "reverted to type" and married an exotically stunning multi-racial Brazilian architect from Sao Paolo. They just had their second son this April 1. Yes, I have lust in my heart for my nephew-in-law -- he turns quite a few heads. As for my nieces, imagine their wake-up-call when they first encountered difficulty going through customs at the San Ysidro/Tijuana border when they were in college.

So, this subject of why the USA is so positive towards Cubans seeking political asylum while home-grown militias of drunk, white yahoos roam the RV parking spaces along the Saguaro National Park, Rio Grande, Organ Pipe National Monument, and the upscale horse properties south of what starts as Telegraph Avenue and heads east out of the San Diego Basin towars Yuma, Arizona is something I keep in mind whenever I think maybe I might like to spend a year on my ranch in Nevada. Nope. Don't need to surround myself with such stupidity. There is a deep-seated racial intolerance that keeps bubbling to the top in the Great Melting Pot. And I'm certain it will never go away, at least no in my lifetime. Just check out the previous post on this thread from some twit claiming that all Cuban immigrants are corrupt and have brought their "illegal" traditions with them to the USA. Another child left behind, perhaps? No, just a stupid, fucking racist.

My Mexican grandmother was never in charge of military troops and the carting off of "The Jewish Problem" to concentration camps. Yet, despite her hard life, she was an amazing woman and very charitable. Sadly, the sweet spirits of her little Ewetaw community never fully accepted her. In contrast I look in continual amazement that Oscar and Charlotte are considered absolutely fabulous folks, although deep down inside they still cling to the beliefs and hopes they had in their 20's.

Nazis or humble Mexicans: which group would you rather sit back and enjoy a family dinner with.:hmmm:

 

[faceking]

racist

concur.

 

[vince]

Basically, the U.S. ignores Mexican illegals because the U.S. government has a policy of propping up the current Mexican regime (whatever it happens to be at the time), and if it didn't the Mexican government would have to stop screwing over its citizens as much as possible or face revolution.

They also have a policy of keeping food prices low and farm profits up.

To all those folks living in Chicago or New Jersey enjoying your avocado and tomato sandwich for lunch and condemning all those dirty little mexicans sneaking across the border- who the fuck do you think makes possible for you to afford to buy it? Or makes it possible period?

My brother has small business in Florida and he considers any employee who will actually show up on time every day and work eight hours to be a keeper. He says it is rare to find a white guy or a black guy that can achieve that status. His best guys are immigrants and mostly Mexican. btw- these are 12 to 18 dollar an hour jobs which require a brain. The pay is not great, but not too bad.

 

[faceking]

I think it has more to do with the politics of Communism vs Presidential Republic that has Cubans viewed as more welcome to stay than Mexicans. With Cubans it's a wet foot/dry foot thing that determines if they are allowed to stay or are deported. Both nationalities are required to come into the USA legally, but the first thing a Cuban will request is political asylum:

Right of asylum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As for the others, well the Chinese, that's communism vs democracy too.

ummmmmmmmmmmmm

wow.. this is so simplistic.... there's 11M ppl in all of Cuba... there's 6M illegal Mexicans in the US... that we know of

do I need to handhold folk here through the rest of the logic of Cuban vs. Mexican immigration (legal and illegal) in the US.....

 

[faceking]

To all those folks living in Chicago or New Jersey enjoying your avocado and tomato sandwich for lunch and condemning all those dirty little mexicans sneaking across the border- who the fuck do you think makes possible for you to afford to buy it? Or makes it possible period?

Niavity in it's finest hour.