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Cubans in America: Push and Pull Factors of Immigration
Document 5
Vocabulary
Repression: The state of keeping down, or under restraint.
Chaotic: A state of confusion or disorder.
Excerpt from President Jimmy Carter’s May 14, 1980 Statement
… Tens of thousands of Cubans are fleeing the repression of the Castro regime under chaotic and perilous conditions. Castro himself has refused to permit them a safe and orderly passage to the United States and to other countries who are also willing to receive them. Repeated international efforts to resolve this crisis have been rejected or ignored by the Cuban Government. At least seven people have died on the high seas. The responsibility for those deaths and the threat of further loss of life rests on the shoulders of Fidel Castro, who has so far refused to cooperate with us, with those escaping his regime, or with other countries in establishing a legal and orderly procedure for dealing with this Cuban problem.
First, we are ready to start an airlift and a sealift for those screened and qualified people to come to our country, and for no other escapees from Cuba. We will provide this airlift and sealift to our country and to other countries as well, just as soon as the Cubans accept this offer. The U.S. Government will have aircraft ready and will immediately charter ships—one of which will be standing by in Key West—to bring the first group of Cubans, after they are screened, to our country. These ships and the Key West plans will be ready to go to Cuba to receive properly screened Cubans for entry to the United States and to other countries, to help in their resettlement…
Document 5: Excerpt from President Jimmy Carter’s press statement, May 14, 1980.
Document 5 Short-Answer Questions
- What dangerous situation has occurred with regards to refugees from Cuba?
- What does President Carter say the U.S. will start providing?
- What effect will this policy have on Cuban immigration to the U.S.?
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