Immigration influx tests newcomers and organizations in Tampa | Ap
TAMPA, Fla. — He left Cuba seven months ago with his wife and three kids in a journey that took him from his native Guantanamo through Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala to the U.S.-Mexico border.
Joelvis Verdecia, 33, has never been a Cuban dissident. But like most on the island, he felt the pressure of an economic crisis, food shortages and high prices.
kAm&?6>A=@J65 7@C D:I >@?E9D 3642FD6 @7 4@C@?2G:CFD[ 9:D 72>:=J DFCG:G65 H:E9 D2G:?8D 2?5 H:E9 E96 96=A @7 7C:6?5D 2?5 C6=2E:G6D]k^Am
kAm“(6 4@F=5 ?@ =@?86C =:G6 😕 rF32[” D2:5 ‘6C564:2] “*@F 92G6 E@ =62G6 3642FD6 :7 ?@E[ J@F H:== C68C6E :E 7@C6G6C]”k^Am
kAmw:D @=56C 3C@E96C[ *@6?5CJ[ be[ 2 rF32? A2DE@C[ 9FD32?5 2?5 2 72E96C @7 EH@ 8:C=D[ C624965 E96 pC:K@?2 3@C56C E9C66 H66<D 28@ 9@A:?8 7@C 2DJ=F> 27E6C 2 8CF6=:?8 EC6< E92E 3682? gh 52JD 28@]k^Am
kAmq@E9 rF32?D 2C6 A2CE @7 2 H2G6 @7 E6?D @7 E9@FD2?5D H9@ 92G6 =67E 9@>6D 😕 E96 r2C:3362? 2?5 {2E:? p>6C:42] %96 DFC86 @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E2>A232J]4@>^?6HD^7=@C:52\A@=:E:4D^a_ab^_`^`a^H92E\7=@C:52\G\3:56?\25>:?:DEC2E:@?\42D6\E6==D\FD\23@FE\:>>:8C2E:@?^Qm>:8C2E:@?k^2m E@ E96 $F?D9:?6 $E2E6 😀 @G6CH96=>:?8 =@42= C6D@FC46D 2?5 AFD9:?8 E96 DJDE6> E@ :ED =:>:ED]k^Am
kAmx? 7:D42= J62C a_aa[ 7656C2= 2FE9@C:E:6D >256 >@C6 E92? a]a >:==:@? 2CC6DED 2E E96 &]$]\|6I:4@ 3@C56C[ E96 >@DE 6G6C C64@C565[ 244@C5:?8 E@ &]$] rFDE@>D 2?5 q@C56C !C@E64E:@?] x? C646?E >@?E9D >@C6 E92? c[c__ >:8C2?ED[ >@DE=J rF32?D 2?5 D@>6 w2:E:2?D[ 92G6 2CC:G65 3J 3@2E 😕 u=@C:52]k^Am
kAmv@G] #@? s6$2?E:D C646?E=J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E2>A232J]4@>^?6HD^7=@C:52\A@=:E:4D^a_ab^_`^_e^56D2?E:D\>:8C2?ED\?2E:@?2=\8F2C5\4F32\92:E:\D@FE9\7=@C:52^Qm>@3:=:K65 E96 DE2E6’D }2E:@?2= vF2C5k^2m E@ C6DA@?5 E@ >:8C2?ED =2?5:?8 😕 E96 u=@C:52 z6JDi f__ rF32?D @G6C E96 }6H *62C’D H66<6?5 2=@?6]k^Am
kAm%96 2CC:G2= @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E2>A232J]4@>^?6HD^a_aa^“^_a^FD7\DEF5J\5242\:>>:8C2?ED\>6?E2=\962=E9^Qm?6H :>>:8C2?EDk^2m C6AC6D6?ED 2 492==6?86 ?@E @?=J 7@C 8@G6C?>6?E 286?4:6D 3FE 2=D@ ?@?AC@7:E @C82?:K2E:@?D[ 4@>>F?:EJ 8C@FAD[ 2?5 6G6? AF3=:4 D49@@=D]k^Am
kAmp== 2C6 D66:?8 2 9:DE@C:4 :?4C62D6 7@C D@4:2= D6CG:46D 2?5 4@F?D6=:?8 2>@?8 ?6H4@>6CD[ H9@ 49@@D6 E@ =62G6 E96:C 4@F?EC:6D 5F6 E@ A@G6CEJ 2?5 4@CCFAE:@?[ G:@=6?46 2?5 6IE@CE:@?]k^Am
kAmt=:K236E9 pC2?52[ 2 D@4:@=@8J AC@76DD@C 2?5 5:C64E@C @7 E96 x>>:8C2?E (6==\q6:?8 #6D62C49 r6?E6C 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 $@FE9 u=@C:52[ D2:5 >@DE A6@A=6 H@F=5 C2E96C C6>2:? 😕 E96:C 9@>6D 2D =@?8 2D E96C6 😀 A@=:E:42=[ 64@?@>:4[ 2?5 D@4:2= DE23:=:EJ 2?5 D64FC:EJ]k^Am
kAm“%@ FAC@@E @?6D6=7 2?5 @?6’D 72>:=J 😀 2 EC6>6?5@FD @C562=[ A2CE:4F=2C=J H96? H6 7:?5 E92E A6@A=6 2C6 4C@DD:?8 E96 3@C56CD @7 >F=E:A=6 4@F?EC:6D E@ D66< 2DJ=F>[” D96 D2:5] “xE 😀 2 A6C:=@FD ;@FC?6J E92E ?@ @?6 H@F=5 F?56CE2<6 F?=6DD E96J 925 E@]”k^Am
kAm‘(6 2C6 7F==’k^Am
kAm&?56C AC6DDFC6 E@ 255C6DD E96 :?7=FI[ !C6D:56?E y@6 q:56? D2:5 E96 4@F?ECJ H:== 2446AE b_[___ A6@A=6 2 >@?E9 7@C EH@ J62CD 7C@> rF32[ }:42C28F2[ ‘6?6KF6=2 2?5 w2:E: 2D =@?8 2D E96J 92G6 DA@?D@CD 2?5 A2DD 324<8C@F?5 4964<D] |:8C2?ED 7C@> E9@D6 7@FC ?2E:@?D H9@ 4C@DD E96 3@C56C H:== 36 :>>65:2E6=J C6EFC?65 E@ |6I:4@ F?56C 2 A2?56>:4 CF=6 <?@H? 2D %:E=6 ca]k^Am
kAmu@C>6C A@=:E:42= AC:D@?6C #@36CE@ !:K2?@[ gc[ 2 >6>36C @7 r2D2 rF32[ 2? 2?E:\4@>>F?:DE @C82?:K2E:@? 7@F?565 3J rF32? 6I:=6D 😕 %2>A2[ D2:5 ?6H :>>:8C2?ED 92G6 E96 C:89E E@ =@@< 7@C 36EE6C @AA@CEF?:E:6D] qFE 96 5@6D?’E DFAA@CE 492@D]k^Am
kAm“xE 😀 2 4C:D:D 7@C E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D[ 3FE rF32 😕 A2CE:4F=2C 😀 2?5 92D 366?[ 7@C >@C6 E92? D:I 564256D[ 2 EC:886C 7@C E9:D EJA6 @7 9F>2?:E2C:2? 4C:D:D[” D2:5 !:K2?@] “(6 92G6 E@ 5@ D@>6E9:?8 E@ DE@A E96 G:4:@FD 4J4=6 2?5 ?@E 7665 :E]”k^Am
kAmy@Dé u6C?á?56K[ 5:C64E@C @7 :>>:8C2E:@? D6CG:46D 7@C r2E9@=:4 r92C:E:6D 😕 $E] !6E6CD3FC8[ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^A6E6CD3FC8]:D^Qmk^2m D2:5 E96C6 2C6 DE:== DEC@?8 5:G:D:@?D 23@FE H92E D9@F=5 36 5@?6 E@ 7:I E96 AC@3=6>] r2E9@=:4 r92C:E:6D 96=AD 9F?5C65D @7 :>>:8C2?ED 2?5 E96:C 72>:=:6D 6G6CJ J62C]k^Am
kAm{2DE J62C[ >@C6 E92? a[___ A6@A=6 FD65 E96 8C@FA’D :>>:8C2E:@? 2?5 4:E:K6?D9:A D6CG:46D[ D=:89E=J >@C6 E92? 😕 a_a`] %96 r2E9@=:4 r92C:E:6D’ @77:46D 😕 $E] !6E6CD3FC8[ s@G6C[ %2>A2 2?5 (:>2F>2 96=A H:E9 :>>:8C2E:@? 2?5 2DJ=F> A2A6CH@C< 2?5 72>:=J C6F?:7:42E:@?]k^Am
kAmu6C?á?56K 36=:6G6D E92E E96 ?F>36C @7 E9@D6 96=A65 4@F=5 36 9:896C 2E E96 6?5 @7 E96 J62C] x? 9:D bd J62CD @7 6IA6C:6?46[ 96 92D ?6G6C D66? D@ >2?J A6@A=6 2?5 72>:=:6D 2D<:?8 7@C 96=A] p3@FE c_ A6@A=6 2C6 ?@H 86EE:?8 2:5 6G6CJ 52J — 23@FE EH:46 E96 2G6C286 7C@> E96 AC6G:@FD EH@ J62CD[ u6C?á?56K D2:5]k^Am
kAmx? w:==D3@C@F89 r@F?EJ[ E96 ?@?AC@7:E |F;6C6D #6DE2FC252D A@C s:@D 😀 2=D@ D66:?8 :?4C62D65 56>2?5 7@C 9F>2?:E2C:2? 2:5] {2DE H66<[ :ED 7@F?56C[ }2?4J w6C?2?56K[ 2?5 `c G@=F?E66CD 82E96C65 E@ @C82?:K6 @? 2 49:==J (65?6D52J 2?5 uC:52J 2E 96C @77:46 2=@?8 }63C2D<2 pG6?F6]k^Am
kAms@K6?D @7 G69:4=6D D?2<65 2C@F?5 E96 A2C<:?8 =@E 2?5 @?E@ E96 DEC66E[ D96 D2:5] sFC:?8 E9@D6 EH@ 52JD E96J 82G6 @FE 2 E@E2= @7 f__ 328D H:E9 5CJ 8@@5D 2?5 7C6D9 7@@5[ 2? 2>@F?E 4@?D:DE6?E @G6C E96 A2DE D:I >@?E9D]k^Am
kAmp J62C 28@ w6C?á?56K H@C<65 H:E9 7:G6 G@=F?E66CD 2?5 FD65 E@ 5:DEC:3FE6 b__ 3@I6D @7 7@@5]k^Am
kAm“~FC 7:CDE H2G6 92AA6?65 27E6C E96 A2?56>:4[ 2?5 E96 >2;@C:EJ H6C6 =@42= C6D:56?ED[” D96 D2:5] “}@H[ 2?5 @G6C E96 =2DE 76H >@?E9D[ H6 2C6 ECJ:?8 E@ 96=A E96 ?6H :>>:8C2?ED]”k^Am
kAmp>@?8 p>6C:42’D `__ =2C86DE >6EC@ 2C62D[ %2>A2 q2J H2D 2=C625J @?6 @7 E96 >@DE A@AF=2C >:8C2E:@? 56DE:?2E:@?D 7C@> a_`_ E@ a_a_[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^8H3FD946?E6C]:>8:I]?6E^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^x>>:8C2?ED\2?5\~AA\b]A57QmDEF5J 3J E96 v6@C86 (] qFD9 x?DE:EFE6\$|&k^2m]k^Am
kAm|2Cí2 v2C2G:E@[ =6256C @7 {2 #65 56 !25C6D p4E:G@D W%96 }6EH@C< @7 p4E:G6 !2C6?ED AC@8C2>X 2E E96 w:DA2?:4 $6CG:46D r@F?4:=[ D2:5 E96 C646?E >:8C2E:@? 😕 E96 %2>A2 q2J 2C62 42? 36 D66? 😕 DEF56?E 6?C@==>6?E 😕 AF3=:4 D49@@=D]k^Am
kAmpD @7 s646>36C[ E96 w:==D3@C@F89 r@F?EJ !F3=:4 $49@@=D 925 `_[_bg :>>:8C2?E DEF56?ED[ H:E9 b[c`_ @7 E9@D6 6?C@==:?8 D:?46 E96 DE2CE @7 E96 D49@@= J62C] %96 5:DEC:4E EJA:42==J 92D 2C@F?5 h[___ :>>:8C2?E DEF56?ED 6249 J62C] %96 DEF56?ED 92G6 4@>6 7C@> >@C6 E92? a_ 4@F?EC:6D[ H:E9 E96 >2;@C:EJ 7C@> rF32 Wa[eddXj w@?5FC2D Wgh_Xj ‘6?6KF6=2 WggbXj 2?5 r@=@>3:2 Wf_bX[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 t?8=:D9 {2?8F286 {62C?6CD 56A2CE>6?E] x? !:?6==2D r@F?EJ E96 ?F>36C @7 DEF56?E >:8C2?ED H9@ 6?C@==65 😕 AF3=:4 D49@@=D :?4C62D65 3J b`a 7C@> pF8FDE E@ s646>36C] %96J H6C6 AC65@>:?2?E=J 7C@> rF32 7@==@H65 3J ‘6?6KF6=2 2?5 }:42C28F2]k^Am
kAmu=@C:52 92D E96 E9:C5\=2C86DE {2E:?@ DEF56?E A@AF=2E:@? 😕 E96 4@F?ECJ] %96 A6C46?E286 @7 ?6H w:DA2?:4 DEF56?ED 92D 366? EC6?5:?8 FA 7@C E96 A2DE 7:G6 J62CD 😕 E96 %2>A2 q2J 2C62[ >@DE @7 E96> 7C@> {2E:? p>6C:42 2?5 E96 r2C:3362?] |@C6 E92? g_[___ DEF56?ED 😕 w:==D3@C@F89 r@F?EJ :56?E:7J 2D w:DA2?:4]k^Am
kAm“%96C6 😀 2 3:8 56>2?5 7@C :?7@C>2E:@?[ 2?5 5FC:?8 E96 =2DE D:I >@?E9D H6 92G6 D6CG65 2 =@E @7 ?6H=J 2CC:G65 A@AF=2E:@?[” D2:5 v2C2G:E@]k^Am
kAmw6C ?6EH@C< AC6A2C6D {2E:?@ <:5D 7@C DF446DD 😕 D49@@= 3J A2CE?6C:?8 H:E9 @C82?:K2E:@?D E@ 6?8286 A2C6?ED 😕 E96:C 49:=5C6?’D 65F42E:@?] }@H E96J 2C6 D6CG:?8 @G6C a_ 72>:=:6D H96? E96 EJA:42= ?F>36C H2D ?@ >@C6 E92? `_]k^Am
kAm“(6 2C6 7F==[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 9F>2? 7246 @7 :>>:8C2E:@?k^Am
kAmÁ=G2C@ “F:C@K[ b`[ 2?5 9:D H:76[ v23C:6=2[ b_[ 8C6H FA 😕 2 >@56DE ?6:893@C9@@5 @? E96 @FED<:CED @7 |2?28F2 😕 }:42C28F2]k^Am
kAmx? yF?6[ E96 72>:=J 564:565 E@ =62G6 E96:C 4@F?ECJ]k^Am
kAm%96 ;@FC?6J E@@< 2 >@?E9] %96J D=6AE 😕 E96 @A6? 2?5 H6?E 9F?8CJ F?E:= E96J C624965 E96 |6I:42? 4:EJ @7 #6J?@D2[ 😕 E96 DE2E6 @7 %2>2F=:A2D] uC@> E96C6[ E96J 4C@DD65 E96 #:@ vC2?56 :?E@ %6I2D]k^Am
kAm“~?=J E9@D6 H9@ C62==J =:G6 :E 42? <?@H H92E E96 6IA6C:6?46 @7 4C@DD:?8 E96 3@C56C >62?D[” “F:C@K D2:5] “x 5@ ?@E H:D9 :E @? 2?J@?6]”k^Am
kAm}@H E96J =:G6 😕 #FD<:? H96C6 96 92D 2 E6>A@C2CJ 4@?DECF4E:@? ;@3 62C?:?8 S`d A6C 9@FC] %96J 5@ ?@E 92G6 D2G:?8D @C >@?6J E@ 9:C6 2? :>>:8C2E:@? =2HJ6C] (:E9 ?@ 4C65:E 9:DE@CJ[ E96 4@FA=6 3@F89E 2? @=5 p4FC2 7@C =6DD E92? Sa[___]k^Am
kAm“(6 56A6?5 @? E96 96=A E92E 7C:6?5D @C 8C@FAD =:<6 r2E9@=:4 r92C:E:6D 42? @776C FD E@ >@G6 7@CH2C5 H:E9 @FC A2A6CH@C<[” D2:5 v23C:6=2] “qFE :E 😀 ?@E 62DJ] |2?J A6@A=6 2C6 😕 ?665[ H6 2C6 ?@E E96 @?=J @?6D]”k^Am
kAmq67@C6 y@6=G:D ‘6C564:2 2CC:G65 😕 E96 &]$] D6G6? >@?E9D 28@[ 96 H2D D6==:?8 E@JD 2?5 A:ñ2E2D 😕 rF32]k^Am
kAmx? %2>A2 96 :?DE2==D 5@@CD 😕 9@E6=D 2?5 @77:46D D:I 52JD 2 H66<]k^Am
kAm“x’G6 =62C?65 E9:D 96C6[ 2?5 x 62C? S`e 2? 9@FC[” 96 D2:5] “xE’D ?@E 325 E@ DE2CE[ 3FE J@F 92G6 E@ H@C< 2 =@E E@ >2<6 >@?6J]”k^Am
kAmy@6=G:D’ 72>:=J =:G6D 😕 2 E9C66\365C@@> 9@FD6 😕 qC2?5@?[ A2J:?8 Sa[b__ 2 >@?E9]k^Am
kAm%H@ @E96C rF32? 7C:6?5D H9@ 42>6 E@ E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D H:E9 E96> =:G6 =6DD E92? EH@ >:=6D 2H2J]k^Am
kAm“(6 96=A 6249 @E96C[” y@6=G:D D2:5] “xE’D 8@@5 E@ 92G6 7C:6?5D H96? J@F DE2CE 😕 E9:D 4@F?ECJ]”k^Am
kAmw:D 3C@E96C[ *@6?5C:[ =67E 9:D H:76 2?5 EH@ 52F89E6CD[ 286D g 2?5 c[ 369:?5 😕 rF32]k^Am
kAmw6 7@F?5 H@C< :?DE2==:?8 =2>:?2E6 7=@@C:?8] x? rF32[ 96 H2D E96 A2DE@C @7 2 q2AE:DE 49FC49 7@C >@C6 E92? `e J62CD] sFC:?8 E96 7:CDE H66< @7 ~4E@36C 96 EC2G6=65 E@ $FC:?2>6 H:E9 2 E@FC:DE G:D2] xE H2D E96 368:??:?8 @7 2 ;@FC?6J E9C@F89 `c 4@F?EC:6D F?E:= 96 7:?2==J 4C@DD65 @? s64] ag E96 56D6CE 4:EJ @7 *F>2[ 2E E96 &]$] D@FE96C? 3@C56C H:E9 |6I:4@ 2?5 pC:K@?2]k^Am
kAmw6 =@DE e_ A@F?5D 2?5 D=6AE 😕 E96 @A6?]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 5:77:4F=E 3642FD6 J@F 5@?’E 92G6 J@FC 72>:=J[” D2:5 *@6?5C:] “x H2D 2 A2DE@C] }@H x’> 2? :>>:8C2?E]”k^Am
kAm———k^Am
kAm©a_ab %2>A2 q2J %:>6D] ‘:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E2>A232J]4@>QmE2>A232J]4@>k^2m] s:DEC:3FE65 3J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EC:3F?64@?E6?E286?4J]4@>Qm%C:3F?6 r@?E6?E p86?4J[ {{r]k^2mk^Am
link
