In 1959, Fidel Castro took over Cuba — causing my family to flee.
Cubans are known for their cigars, cafe, conservative beliefs and Catholic values. However, they are lesser known for their immigration privilege with the wet-foot, dry foot-policy.
Until 2017, the wet-foot, dry-foot policy— which allowed Cuban emigrants to enter America without a visa and pursue residency after a year — was an opportunity given to Cubans, including my own family.
Compared to our current immigration crisis, we were given an unfair advantage compared to other migrants, which is why President Obama chose to end the policy. While many Cubans may not have agreed with it, I did.
Alex Brizee | Argonaut
I am extremely grateful that my family was able to come to America, but I recognize the privilege we were given and the privilege that many of my friends did not receive.
Growing up in Miami, a city brimming with different ethnic backgrounds, immigration was never a topic off the table — it affected all of us.
I know people whose families are still working to get their citizenship after more than 10 years or parents having to give up their degrees because they were more worried about their children than themselves.
Why did my Cuban heritage give me the right to easier residency access and over others? Maybe I shouldn’t talk so negatively about the privileges my family received before my citizenship is taken away.
Cubans often blend in with the Caucasian population, while people from Mexico have more of indigenous backgrounds and have that stereotype of being Hispanic.
My family may look more white, but that doesn’t mean we have any more right to be here than the Mexican migrants at our border right now.
No one is saying to throw down the gates and just let anyone and everyone in. But we should let those hardworking families and people in need come here.
People. We often forget the people part of immigration. These are people just like you and me. Their accent, skin tone or cultural heritage does not make them any less a person.
Those who are not free in their own countries and are brave enough to fight for a new life deserve one here. If not, how can we call ourselves the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Americans and Cubans raised me. I was told to be proud of both America and Cuba. If I’m going to do them justice, then I’m ready to speak up for all of our immigrant brothers and sisters.
I come from an island filled with many different races, ethnicity and backgrounds, but all of us are Cubans. We are all Hispanic, we are all Latinx and we are all Americans.
For those fighting to also be American — don’t stop.
Alex Brizee can be reached at [email protected]