Welfare abuse by Cuban immigrants demands action

the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board
Oct. 23, 2015

Words of outrage aren't enough. Our delegation should do something about the fraud.

Some members of South Florida's congressional delegation are talking tough about our nation's liberal immigration law for Cubans. But given the rampant abuses, more than talk is needed. It's time for action.

Recall that in January, the Sun Sentinel reported that American businesses and taxpayers lost more than $2 billion over the past two decades because of a revolving-door criminal pipeline enabled by our nation's unique immigration policy for Cubans.

Most recently, our investigative team found that Americans are paying $680 million per year in welfare benefits to Cuban immigrants, some of whom use the money to return to the island. Some stay for months.

Others stay for good — living in Cuba on U.S. benefits.

Fleeing persecution and fearing for their lives? Hardly.

Bilking American taxpayers? You bet.

In response to our most recent report, some delegation members again have called for a re-examination of the Cuban Adjustment Act, which exclusively grants residency to almost any Cuban who sets foot here.

But many of these folks said the same thing in January, after we exposed the enormous amount of crime being committed by Cubans who come here not to flee political persecution, but to make money in the drug trade, or to rip off Medicare, retailers, auto insurance companies, banks and credit card companies.

Things move slowly in Washington, but how much more money must be lost before South Florida's members of Congress — the nation's go-to caucus on all things Cuba — actually do something about the waste, fraud and abuse?

You want to talk about fixing an entitlement mentality, demonstrating fiscal responsibility and addressing immigration reform? Let's start with repealing the Cuban Adjustment Act, which was enacted in 1966 and has outlived its purpose.

For let's be honest here. The growing number of Cuban immigrants arriving today are not fleeing political persecution. They're coming to capture their shot at a better life, afraid that normalization efforts will bring about an end to their special status.

Also, as our reporting makes crystal clear, some are coming for easy access to food stamps, disability money and Medicaid.

And a good number of older Cubans are retiring to Florida because they can get government assistance without ever having worked here a day.

For a response, our reporters sent South Florida's congressional members a questionnaire about the their findings and possible solutions.

In the answers, we saw some concern and talk of reform. But when it comes to actually doing something, most want to leave the heavy lifting to freshman Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Miami, who faces a tough re-election bid in a newly drawn district that, pending court review, will likely lean Democratic.

Curbelo appears well-meaning, but over the course of the year, he has failed to produce a reform bill. However, in a nod to his Venezuelan constituents, he has found time to introduce the Venezuelan Refugee Assistance Act, which would grant similar permanent residence status to certain Venezuelan refugees.

Without question, politically persecuted Cubans and Venezuelans deserve the same safe harbor America grants persecuted people from other nations.

But how about some election-year pandering to taxpayers footing the bill for the fraud being perpetrated?

Where is the leadership of Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who is chairwoman emeritus of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs? If anyone could do something to stem the fraud, it is her, if she wanted to.

Where is the leadership of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who is traveling the country trying to help Democrats get elected? Given her clout, she could make change happen, if she set her mind to it.

And where is the leadership of Sen. Bill Nelson, who has broken no sweat on this issue, or Sen. Marco Rubio, who calls himself a fiscal conservative?

Sure, it's an election year and uncertainty reigns among those who want to retain their seats or seek a new position of power.

But the measure of a leader is best taken during times of uncertainty.

Speaking for taxpayers, we're offended by the lack of urgency in addressing the abuses. And for the record, we want to point out that hard-working Cuban-Americans — whose political clout may make some politicians gun-shy — are offended, too.

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Esteban Bovo Jr. is one of many Cuban-Americans who told us, "Our congressional folks should be looking at this."

So, too, did Miami Herald columnist Fabiola Santiago courageously call for an end to the Cuban Adjustment Act, given the overwhelming evidence of fraud.

"As a Cuban refugee who found safe haven in this country 46 years ago," she wrote, "it pains me to advocate closing the door on others. But enough is enough. Evidence has been mounting for far too many years that wholesale fraud is being committed by Cubans taking advantage of the extraordinary privileges that U.S. immigration law bestows only upon them."

Given all that we now know, it's insufficient for South Florida's congressional delegation to simply give us lip service.

It's time our representatives addressed the enormous abuses taking place under the guise of protecting Cuban refugees.

What will they do about the fraud?

When it comes to America's policy toward Cuba, members of Congress generally look to South Florida's delegation for guidance on what to do. Given their prominence on the topic, we also are looking to them for leadership in addressing the widespread abuses of our nation's liberal Cuban immigration law, as documented by the Sun Sentinel this year.

So we asked each member: Is it appropriate to give Cuban immigrants welfare, as refugees from oppression, if they regularly travel back to Cuba? If not, what do you plan to do about it?

Here's what they said. You be the judge.

Sen. Marco Rubio: We need to eliminate the loopholes being exploited by those who abuse U.S. law, travel back to Cuba frequently and take advantage of American taxpayers. ... The law should be re-examined to reflect this. Did not directly say what he will do about it.

Sen. Bill Nelson: The proper federal agencies need to be vigilant in prosecuting offenders. Did not directly say what he will do about it.

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen: The Social Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security should share information to prevent those who receive assistance from misusing taxpayer money. Did not directly say what she will do about it.

Rep. Carlos Curbelo: Since January of this year, I have been working on a bipartisan solution with a chance of being signed into law. Those efforts are progressing, and they will continue. ... The Cuban Adjustment Act is actually a complex law that touches different parts of the government, so we're working with our colleagues in D.C., with House legislative counsel and with other public officials to find a solution to the Cuban Adjustment Act.

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart: Rep. Carlos Curbelo is looking into filing legislation, which he hopes will be filed "in relatively short order." We're working with Curbelo on serious reforms. ... We're in touch with him, obviously, and he is looking at reforms.

Rep. Ted Deutch: He sent our stories to the State Department for more information and to express his concerns. He's interested in reviewing Curbelo's bill. "We ought to be evaluating the policy laid out in the Cuban Adjustment Act and take a fresh look at whether that law is no longer relevant. ... We ought to be exploring all of the different ways to broaden the discussion of U.S. and Cuba relations and that includes the possibility of congressional hearings to explore these issues in greater detail.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz: We must take steps to ensure that those people who deserve these benefits receive them and hold people violating the law accountable for their actions. Did not directly say what she will do about it.

Rep. Lois Frankel: The abuses of the law need immediate review by Congress. Did not directly say what she will do about it.

Rep. Frederica Wilson: It is time to re-examine the Cuban Adjustment Act. ... In the coming weeks, I intend to work closely with my congressional colleagues and the appropriate federal agencies to examine delays in implementing common-sense solutions, such as the data sharing agreement (that would identify Cubans receiving welfare benefits who travel back and forth to the island.)

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