Fla.. has long borne with patience the burden of an onslaught of dispossessed Cubansa burden which should long ago have been shared by the entire United States. Valiant efforts have been made by our President. the Federal and State agencies. our churches. business institutions. and individual citizens. to assist in every way possible. Arriving in Miami penniless and with just the clothes they were wearing. almost all of these Cuban refugees had been forced to give up their homes. their businesses. their life savings. and all their personal property. To help them meet the basic needs of existence. the Federal Government has made financial and other assistance available to them until they can become selfsupporting. Employment opportunity in Miami is limited. There simply are not enough jobs to accommodate both local residents and refugees. There arose open competition and economic conflict between the permanent citizenry and the incoming refugees. The balloon had to burst. I have noted the everincreasing frustrations. stresses. strains. and economic ills imposed on the people of my area. For this reason. I have for over 2 years fought for a more realistic approach to this longfestering situation. I have repeatedly advocatedto two Presidents and Government officialsthat Dade County and Florida had reached a saturation point on the acceptance of Cuban refugees. Long ago I urged. and have continued fighting for. the establishment of an additional port of entry and reception center. Long ago. and many times since.
Keywords matched
refugees