Resettlement re-cap: a periodic report from the Cuban Refugee Center, September 1967

              SPONSOR CUBAN  REFUGEES
Fulfill Their Faith in  Freedom
SEPTEMBER  1967
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 JOHN FREDERICK THOMAS, Director, Washington, D. C.
ERROL T. BALLANFONTE, Director of Center HARRY  B.   LYFORD,  Editor
ONE OF EVERY 21 CUBANS NOW IN CUBA COME TO THE UNITED STATES -- 700,000 MORE ARE ON LISTS
Information below is excerpted from a paper authored by John F. Thomas and Earl E. Huyck, of the U.S. Department
of Health, Education, and Welfare, and presented August 31 to the American Sociological Association, meeting in
San Francisco.  Mr. Thomas, since early 1963 Director of the Cuban Refugee Program,  now has the official title
of Special Assistant for Refugee Assistance,  Social and Rehabilitation Service, HEW.   Dr. Huyck is a Program
Analysis Officer, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Program Coordination, HEW.
Some 370,000 Cubans -- one of every 21 Cubans now in Cuba -- have fled to the U.S. since Castro came to power in 1959...and an additional 700,000 in Cuba are on lists hoping to come to this country.  (Cuba population
estimate:  7,900,000.)
For comparison, since World War II virtually all the 900,000 refugees and escapees who came to the U.S.,
including 39,000 Hungarian refugees following the 1956 revolt, came from Europe.  Cuban refugees, therefore, now
account for 29 percent of total refugees admitted to this country since World War II.  They have come not only
from the larger cities of Cuba but also predominantly from the upper and middle classes.  With nearly all Cuban
refugees there has been rapid and thorough assimilation into the economic and social life of their adopted country.  Successful resettlement requires bringing together a refugee, sponsor and a resettlement opportunity appropriate to the person's background and abilities.  A true people-to-people program, as many as 40 to 50
persons are involved in any resettlement.
Many Cubans have returned from resettlement to visit friends and relatives in the Miami area.  But, based on
registration of Cuban students in the Dade county (Miami) school system, perhaps only 5 percent who have been
resettled elsewhere have returned to Miami to establish residence.
The exodus from Cuba has been called "the greatest brain-drain of the century" -- at a cost to the U.S. government of about $1,000 per refugee.  Cuban refugees may already have paid the federal government more in income taxes than the program has cost.1
Self-reliant, versatile Cubans are providing skills in short supply in this country.  Only 4 percent of resettled refugees seek financial assistance from the government, and then normally for no longer than six months.
Government loans for needy Cuban students have helped some 3,000 to enroll in over 200 colleges and universities.
Individual Cubans have proved themselves so sufficient in 2,300 areas of resettlement that both they and their
employers have encouraged additional Cubans to take jobs outside of Miami.  Companies have sent recruiters to
Miami to obtain additional Cubans.  (See "The Score", Page 3, for current Program statistics.)
MIDWEST WELCOME FOR CUBAN REFUGEE FAMILY BRINGS HAPPY REPORT FROM !A QUIET TOWN1 IN ILLINOIS
Lino Marcos has a mighty pleased look as he accepts a hearty welcome from John Scott, a representative of the Vermont Street Methodist Church, Quincy, 111.  The picture scene is at the city's
airport as the Cuban refugee family of six arrives to start new
lives, with the help of the sponsoring church.  From Mr. Marcos'
right are:  two daughters, Marilyn, 12, and Mabel, 9, the son
p Lino, Jr., 7, Mrs. Marcos, a third daughter, Miriela, 10, and
Mift*  t*ie bilingual Sylvia Davis, translating for the church welcoming
*JlfeMj group.  The family registered with Church World Service at the Cu-
jRA ban Refugee Center, Miami, and was resettled through the efforts
of that agency.  A few days after reaching Quincy Mr. and Mrs.
Marcos wrote Miami friends:  "We were met by 10 persons of the
church, all kind and charming.  They have been so helpful.  A wonderful meal had been prepared at our new home by two dear elderly
ladies.  (We live a few blocks from the Mississippi river.) Our
living room is furnished, including a TV and beautiful lamps.
Kitchen and dining-room are well equipped and there is a lovely
patio.  Also we have a clothes washer, telephone and heater. The
children have nice quarters upstairs.  We are most comfortable,
thanks to the kind people who make every effort to understand our
needs.  Lino is working at the church and I plan to do work at a
laundry when the children start school.  I am anxious to begin.
This is a quiet town with good, sound people.  There are 55
churches.  Ours is beautiful.  I hope in God we can build a future for our children here." -- Photo Courtesy Quincy HERALD WHIG.
(SeenSmall Town U.S.A." on Page 2.)
EVERY ISSUE OF !RE-CAP1 HAS A BOX
TITLED fH0W TO TAKE HELPFUL ACTION
--AND WHERE1.  WANT TO INTEREST A
FRIEND?  REFER HIM TO IT, ON PAGE 2