Resettlement re-cap: a periodic report from the Cuban Refugee Center, May 1969

              SPONSOR CUBAN REFUGEES
Fullfill Their Faith in Freedom
MAY, 1969
RESETTLEMENT  RE-CAP
FOR   ADMINISTRATIVE   USE
A PERIODIC REPORT FROM CUBAN REFUGEE CENTER — FREEDOM TOWER, MIAMI, FLORIDA 33101
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
SOCIAL AND REHABILITATION SERVICE
U. S. CUBAN REFUGEE PROGRAM HOWARD H. PALMATIER, Director. Washington, D.C.
ERROL T.  BALLANFONTE, Director of Center HARRY B. LYFORD,  Editor
FOR THEM FREEDOM HAS SPECIAL MEANING  CUBAN EXILES SAY THEY ESPECIALLY VALUE THEIR NEW U.S.
CITIZENSHIP SINCE THEY KNOW WHAT IT IS TO LOSE FREEDOM
Mrc and Mrs0 Tom Rodriguez, Houston, Tex., — and many,
many other refugees from Cuba -- don't have to be reminded
what being an American means. Eight years in this country,
they now have American citizenship, and probably a deeper appreciation of this status that many persons born in the United
Stateso
Mr. Rodriguez, a cost engineer for Texaco, Incc,  puts it
this way:   "The American people are not aware of the freedom
they have in this country because they do not know what losing
their freedom means. Here there is a disposition to take
everything for grantedo  I wish people would realize how lucky
they are in this freedom and would be willing to do everything
to preserve it0"
Mrs. Rodriguez, mother of four children and a clerk for a
Houston firm, gives her observation in these words:   "When I
hear people complaining so much —  about food costs, etc., I
think of Cuba, where there is a lack of food, money, clothes,
and drugs."
Their appreciation of American citizenship is
indicated in this happy Cuban refugee family
scene showing Mr. and Mrs. Tom Rodriguez,
Houston, and their four children, left to
right: Marisela 8, Soraya 7, Alex 9, and
Belinda 4.   -- Photo Courtesy Houston POST.
Writing in the Houston POST,  Ann James, reporter, presents
the above quotations and adds another that might well have the
attention of both Cuban exiles and native Americans.  Mr0 Rodriguez emphasizes:  "Since I am here enjoying the
benefits of this country I should participate as a citizen, not just live here without recognizing my obligations as well as my rights.  In Cuba we lived under two governments that came to power by force.  We know well
the difference between a constitutional government, such as there is in the U.S., and an unconstitutional gov-
ernment0"
Mr. Rodriguez brought out these points as a featured speaker to members of his citizenship class.  He spoke
of the necessary allegiance of new citizens to this country, calling American citizenship the highest privilege
and the greatest responsibility of any in the world0  He stressed the right and duty to vote, the duty to keep
informed, the right to worship as one chooses, and about the rights of those accused of violating laws0
Mr0 Rodriguez received his Bachelor of Science degree at Louisiana State University and trained in England
and in Holland for the oil industry in which was involved in Cuba.  In this country he earlier lived in St.
Louis and Chicago.
EXILE FROM CUBA NOT AN EASY OPTION, VISITOR TO CASTROLAND REPORTS
"The only way of voting against the Castro regime -- other than joining counter-revolutionary efforts -- is
to go into exile," writes Columnist and Author Michael Frayn, who recently spent some time in Cubac  In an article in the Long Island Press, Jamaica, N.Y., he reported that Cubans "pour out on the 10 freedom flights
each week, operated by the U.S. government between Varadero and Miami, and, for those with relatives abroad to
pay the fare, on the handful of scheduled services out of Havana to destinations in the west -- Mexico City,
Madrid, and Curacao.  According to the Cuban government there is a waiting list of 200,000 who have applied to
leave.o.Exile is not an easy option. As soon as you submit your application to leave you lose your job, and
unless you have private means -- there are still people living on compensation they received when their businesses were expropriated -- you have to work in an agricultural labor camp until you goOB.You must presumably
expect to wait for the best part of four years. 00When you go you forfeit all your possessions,,  I watched the
customs men search Cubans, who left on the same plane I did for Madrid, confiscating handfuls of small change,
rifling through photographs and old letters in family Bibles..0everyone, of course, in his best clothes0"
The author might also have mentioned that Cubans report being limited to one cake of soap a month per person, and being required to take their own containers when purchasing liquids, and their own paper in which to
wrap anything for carrying from a store.
MORE AND MORE CUBAN REFUGEES ARE ATTAINING U.S. CITIZENSHIP;THE TOTAL MOVES TOWARD 20,000 MARK