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

              SPONSOR CUBAN REFUGEES
Fulfill Their Faith in Freedom
JANUARY,  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 JOHN F. THOMAS, Director, Washington, D.C.      HOWARD H. PALMATIER, Deputy Director
ERROL T. BALLANFONTE. Director of Center HARRY B. LYFORD, Editor
Angela and Julio Lopez and
Other Exiles 'Backbone of Company'
-- Photo Courtesy Dallas TIMES HERALD
CUBAN REFUGEES 'SAVE THE DAY1 FOR DALLAS CONCERN;
ONE TRIP TO MIAMI fD0ES IT1
"The Vice President in charge of operations for a Dallas firm
will tell you bluntly that Cuban refugees have saved the day for
his company," states the Dallas, Texas, TIMES HERALD, in a story
by Staff Writer Warren Bosworth.
W. R.. Wells, the official of Bravo Smokes, Inc., a firm making
cigarets from lettuce, is quoted as saying:  "If it wasn't for
the Cubans, their loyalty and service to us, we wouldn't be operating as we are today.  They are the backbone of our company,
believe me."
As the news story writer puts it:  "They fled from Castro's
Cuba in search of a new life and a new tomorrow.  Fifteen of them,
some former inmates of Castro's prisons, are now in Dallas putting
the huff and puff in a new firm."
The Cuban Refugee Center, Miami, played an important part in
the success Mr. Wells reports.  He visited the Center, telling of
his need, and was placed in contact with Julio and Angela Lopez.
Both had worked in cigaret-making plants before coming to the U.S.
They looked at pictures of the plant machinery Mr. Wells had
brought with him and their eyes lighted up as they saw machines
similar to those with which they had worked.  They and other
exiles went to Dallas, and a few weeks ago Mr. Wells said he was
seeking more since expansion of the plant is under way.
Emphasizing further his delight in Cubans, Mr. Wells said:  "I
know this must be a strange world for them, but they are doing a
splendid job for us.  Six of the Cubans have had what adds up among them to 100 years of experience in cigaret
making.  The machines we use are like those in other cigaret plants but it takes a special experience to do the
job right.  We've found that experience."
As for Mr. Wells' feeling about the Cuban Refugee Center's part in the company's success with Cubans, he
wrote Director Errol T. Ballanfonte:  "I appreciated the opportunity to meet with you and to thank you personally for the help we have had from you.  A special word of praise goes to Resettlement Officer Stevens R. Renfrow and his secretary, Mrs. Mirta Rodriguez, for the help they have given us, going out of their way to find
the quality employees we desire."
PERMANENT RESIDENT AND CITIZENSHIP TOTALS CONTINUE GROWTH
The adjustment-of-status total among Cuban refugees in the U.S. appears to be near the 118,000 mark, according to available totals and estimates.  This means that more than one-third of the number of refugees registered at the Cuban Refugee Center -- now more than 312,000 -- classify as permanent residents and have become
eligible for the step toward citizenship.  Citizenship appears to have been acquired by more than 10,000 Cuban
refugees, judging by available figures.  Most of this naturalization total is accounted for in the Miami area.
After last July 1, when the hemisphere quota provision of the new immigration law became effective, changes
of status to permanent resident must be counted against the 120,000 annual hemisphere limitation, as are new
visa admissions from other countries of the hemisphere.  The Immigration and Naturalization Service has anticipated that applications for change-of-status for the fiscal year ending next June 30 may average as high as
1,000 a month.
Cuban refugees without citizenship are being reminded of the required registration of all aliens in the
first month of every year.  Time for such January registration with the Immigration and Naturalization Service
is growing short.
A NEW YEAR, WITH CONTINUING NEED FOR RESETTLEMENT,JOB-FINDING,COMMUNITY ADJUSTMENT FOR REFUGEES.1