On Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., the chairman of the U.S. Senate Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, announced he would be the Senate sponsors of the “Cuban Immigrant Work Opportunity Act” which ensues only refugees and asylees from Cuba can enter the Refugee Resettlement Program instead of residents of that island.
U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., introduced the bill back in December. The proposal directs the federal government to ensure that only residents of the United States are eligible for the program. Curbelo brought out the bill after reports emerged that Cubans residing in that nation are abusing the federal Refugee Resettlement Program.
Rubio turned to that theme on Tuesday as he officially announced he would be the Senate sponsor.
“It is outrageous whenever the American people’s generosity is exploited,” said Rubio. “It is particularly outrageous when individuals who claim to be fleeing repression in Cuba are welcomed and allowed to collect federal assistance based on their plight, only to return often to the very place they claimed to be fleeing. The weaknesses in our current law not only allow the flow of American tax dollars into the Castro regime’s coffers, it also undermines the legitimate cause of those Cubans who are truly fleeing repression and political persecution. This is a first step to eliminate the loopholes and financial incentives that have been exploited for too long, while protecting U.S. taxpayers and preserving the original intent of the Cuban Adjustment Act and Refugee Resettlement Program, which is to afford refuge to Cubans truly fleeing persecution.”
Rubio, who is currently running for the Republican presidential nomination, used the opportunity to lambast President Barack Obama’s efforts to normalize relations with the Castro regime in Cuba.
“The need to help those fleeing repression in Cuba has not changed given that, since the Obama administration announced its counterproductive policy of normalization with Castro’s dictatorship, political arrests and repression have increased,” Rubio said. “‘The Cuban Immigrant Work Opportunity Act’ will ensure that we continue assisting those fleeing political persecution in Cuba while working toward ending any abuse of American generosity. This is a strong first step, and I hope Congress will pass it this year.”
“I commend Sen. Rubio for his courageous leadership on this issue,” said Curbelo. “The mass exodus of Cubans and widespread abuse of our refugee assistance programs are direct consequences of President Obama's reckless Cuba policy. This legislation will ensure that only persecuted Cubans can receive refugee benefits, which are designated for those who cannot return to their countries, and will protect American taxpayers. America's generosity should be honored and appreciated - never exploited or abused.”
Curbelo announced on Friday that the measure had garnered the support of every Cuban-American representative in the House including U.S. Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., and Albio Sires, D-NJ. Other members of the Florida delegation supporting the bill include Republican U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis and Democrats U.S. Reps. Ted Deutch and Debbie Wasserman-Schultz. Curbelo also announced that Rubio would be the Senate sponsor.
“Together, we can protect those fleeing the Castro dictatorship while ensuring that America’s generosity is not being exploited and abused,” Curbelo said on Friday.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
