The Cuban Immigrants

There was a serious element to our Cancun trip. While we were waiting for our flight home, a group of about 35 people were escorted to the gate. I thought it was peculiar that they would round up these people, and escort them on the plane, but didn't think much of it for most of the flight. We flew into Miami first before proceeding to D.C.

As we went through customs, I noticed that the same group of 35 people were again rounded up. Some of the women and men were crying profusely. At this point, I'm kind of taken back, because you don't normally see a large group of people, and quite a few of them crying.

Finally, someone told me that they were Cuban immigrants. They had to fly to Mexico first, then to the states. The immigrants were on a three year waiting list, and had to be sponsored by a relative, and had to have a job secured for them before coming over to the states.

This was very humbling for me to see. I've spent a week loafing around Mexico, and this was probably such a life changing event for all 35 people.

Another passenger told me that she ended up talking to one of the immigrants who told her that his grandfather had upset Castro, and was then put on a blacklist. So, his grandfather could not find work, his father couldn't find work, and finally he couldn't find work. They were just living on the kindness of other relatives. It's just such an amazing story.

I didn't see the Cubans after we left customs, but I'm thinking of them, and their new life.