In point of fact, Cuban migration to the United States is one of the most actual, relevant, and topical phenomena for two different peoples, Cubans and Americans, in the 21st century. Cuban migrants have begun arriving in the United States in unprecedented numbers over the past four decades, and border services expect about 150,000 Cubans to come to the American border on foot in 2022. It is no secret that the tense, desperate political circumstances, financial stresses, and social tensions create a specific lever of pressure on the citizens of Cuba, forcing them to leave their native places. Thus, the problematic situations in the dysfunctional country lead to massive aspirations of residents to go abroad. Moreover, their choice often becomes America, where the migration crisis is already unfolding. It is noteworthy that Washington is closely monitoring the situation in the region and seriously fears an influx of refugees from the Caribbean. Cuban migration to the United States is a forced and inevitable process, the reasons, factors, and causes for which were mainly focused on political, ideological, social, and economic aspects.
Factors and Causes of Migration
It should be noted that even though the protests in Cuba have been brought under control, the conditions in these countries are unlikely to improve soon. Moreover, in addition to short-term troubles, the state is dealing with long-term crises, such as the trade embargo and the latest US sanctions, which have led to food and currency shortages. Nevertheless, in order to determine a holistic picture of the situation, it is required to appeal to the following four important events. Thus, the periodization outlined below vividly emphasizes the dynamics of socio-economic aspects and relations between the United States and Cuba, including against the background of the socialist revolution.
The Golden Exile (1959-1962)
Primarily, it is necessary to remember such a significant phenomenon as the “Golden Exile” as Cubans’ first wave of migration to the United States. Perhaps this was the most significant refugee flow in the history of the United States. In this case, the Cuban Revolution’s end and the dictatorship’s beginning as a new form of government determined the further actions of many residents of the country (Castellanos & Gloria, 2018). Fidel Castro’s strategies of interaction and cooperation with the Soviet Union prompted thousands of fellow citizens to flee their native land to America. Hence, the Cuban Revolution brought the proletariat and the working peasantry to power, acting in close alliance.
Indeed, Cubans already lived in the USA for the 50-60 years of the last century, but the number of “guests” in America increased after the revolution. In addition, the first wave of “exiles” consisted mainly of representatives of Cuba’s elite, highly educated middle and upper classes (Kapcia, 2020). It is known that each of them was looking for freedom, independence, and human rights, afraid of reprisals from the new leaders (Castellanos & Gloria, 2018). The American Government even made concessions to the migrants, for example, granting the status of political refugees and providing benefits under the terms of the assimilation policy of the United States. Consequently, the change of government and the introduction of the cardinal innovations in political activity played a significant role in the resettlement of Cuban citizens to the neighboring region.
The Freedom Flights (1965-1973)
The “exiles” continued to seek refuge as the socio-political climate in Cuba deteriorated. Therefore, the first wave of Cubans arrived was followed by the next one in 1965-1973 after the conclusion of the American-Cuban agreement on “Freedom Flights” from Varadero to Miami. Thus, the US government-funded refugee flights have become one of the most extensive initiations in American history. Without any doubt, some Cubans were waiting for changes on the island. Expressing dissatisfaction, they often witnessed repression in terms of confiscation of property and the abolition of private ownership (Castellanos & Gloria, 2018). Consequently, the frustration with the new regime began to increase, and the US Government encouraged the aspirations of Cuban citizens to change their citizenship. American laws granted Cuban citizens privileges in expediting obtaining a residence permit in the United States, which representatives of other countries are deprived of. This circumstance, among other phenomena, pushes Cubans to emigrate for economic reasons.
Further, since the begging 70s of the 20th century, there was a substantial influx of Cuban migrants to the United States, who were much poorer than those who had arrived before. Most were mulattoes and blacks, and some even had a criminal past. From now on, Cubans began to be divided into migrant workers who wanted to improve their condition and living standards in the more developed country. Therefore, migrants of this wave were less desirable to the American government, and their number became strictly regulated.
The Mariel Boat Lift (1980)
It is known for sure that the third wave of Cuban migration occurred from Mariel Harbor to Florida. Historical facts demonstrate that migrants relied more on economic considerations than ideological ones (Cruz, 2020). Every year in the late 70s and early 80s of the 20th century, thousands of migrants returned to their homeland to pick up their family members and demonstrate to them a wide range of opportunities abroad. Cubans who arrived after 1980 often already had families and needed to maintain transnational ties (Cruz, 2020). In particular, the increase in the number of refugees is associated with the desire to strengthen family connections.
However, these people faced unforeseen circumstances; the Cuban authorities obliged the “exiles” to take all unrelated individuals, including ones from the lowest strata of society. In turn, law-abiding citizens, faced with stereotypes and prejudices, did not receive automatic refugee status in the United States and were forced to “wait in line” like refugees from other regions (Castellanos & Gloria, 2018). In the future, refugees, unlike those who emigrated from the island thirty years ago, will not meet with sympathy and mutual understanding from the American public (Jacklin, 2019). Thus, “The Mariel boat lift” intensified the contrasts and conflicts between the immigrants of the first and last waves in Miami.
The Balsero Crisis (1994)
Finally, the fourth wave of Cuban emigration began in 1994 against the background of a prolonged economic crisis after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent collapse of the Soviet Union. The wave of immigration consisted mainly of a financial crisis in Cuba. Such troubles as the growth of social tension, dissatisfaction with political reforms, as well as a drop in the quality of life in general terms seemed to fall on citizens at once, depriving them of hope and faith in a better future in their native country. Accordingly, with the beginning of the 90s, Cubans again had an acute craving to move to the neighboring region. Nevertheless, the US Government met the new guests rather coldly and perceived “Balsero” as a threat to national security, as the case with “the Mariel boat lift.” In order to establish control over Cuban immigration, President Clinton signed a new U.S.-Cuba agreement in August 1994, setting quotas for immigration (Timeline: U.S.-Cuba relations, 2022). As a result of several waves of political and economic immigration, the natives of Cuba have created cohesive, numerous diasporas with their political views, financial situation, and sources of information.
Conclusion
Summarizing the above information, it is necessary to state that Cuban migration to the United States is a natural and inevitable process, the beginning of which was mainly paved due to the Cuban Social Revolution, the overthrow of the former rulers, and the established political foundations. As a rule, Cuban migration consists of the four key stages, each of which played a vital role in the history of America and Cuba: “the historical (golden) exile,” “the freedom flights,” “the Mariel exodus (boat lift),” and “the Balsero crisis.” Thus, for example, if the first wave of migrants mostly fled from the new political regime, then subsequent bursts of migration at the US border occurred mainly based on economic troubles and difficulties in realizing a decent life. Nevertheless, the migration crisis is bringing the American administration more and more “headaches,” and there are many Cubans among the illegal immigrants. Hence, for the American government, the issue of accepting Cubans into the country is still controversial, and US leaders’ decisions about “neighbors” often change depending on a wide range of criteria.
References
Castellanos, J., & Gloria, A. M. (2018). Cuban Americans: From golden exiles to dusty feet—freedom, hope, endurance, and the American dream. In P. Arredondo (Ed.), Latinx immigrants (pp. 75-94). Cham: Springer. Web.
Cruz, B. (2020). Más que Cubano: Linked fate, transnationalism, and generational differences among Cuban immigrants (Undergraduate Thesis). Retrieved from UCF Theses and Dissertations.
Jacklin, J. M. (2019). The Cuban refugee criminal: Media reporting and the production of a popular image. International Journal of Cuban Studies, 11(1), 61-83. Web.
Kapcia, A. (2020). A short history of revolutionary Cuba: Revolution, power, authority and the state from 1959 to the present day. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing.
Timeline: U.S.-Cuba relations. (2022). Web.