Thousands of Cuban refugees expected to arrive in El Paso

BY JILLIAN FERTIG TUESDAY, MAY 10TH 2016






EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14) — The Houchen Center is getting ready to receive as many as 3,000 Cuban refugees, according to the center's director Veronica Roman.

Roman got the call Saturday.
Roman picked up 50 refugees from an El Paso port of entry Tuesday after they had traveled for two days.

The refugees are expected to stay at the Houchen Center for the next couple of days as the center helps them get to their family members living in the U.S. or help find a place for them to go.

Some of the immigrants traveled from Cuba to South America and then to Mexico before arriving in El Paso.

A number of them were hungry.

Roman said the center could receive hundreds more later in the week, including women and children.

She adds that this is the biggest group the center has ever had. She says they need the bare essentials to house them.

"My volunteers are going on two hours of sleep. The community can help by donating food, clothes, blankets, diapers and baby food," said Roman.

There's no word yet on when the next group will be here.

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Jillian Fertig ‎@JillianKFOX_CBS

50 refugees from Cuba arrived at the Houchen Community Center in El Paso this morning. @KFOX14
11:15 AM - 10 May 2016


According to Roman, U.S. Customs and Border Protection determines whether immigrants can cross the border.

CBP says they've seen a large influx of Cuban immigrants along this part of the border.

They also said anyone who applies to enter the U.S. at the ports of entry from Juarez are processed.

One immigrant told KFOX14 a lot of Cubans are fleeing from political corruption in Cuba.

Catch more of the interview with a refugee who says he's been traveling to get to the U.S. since February to escape Cuba, tonight on KFOX14 News at Nine.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection released the following statement when KFOX14 asked why Cubans are crossing through Texas.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is prepared to process the expected increase in Cubans applying for admission at El Paso area ports of entry. CBP officers will process Cuban nationals in accordance with established procedures as expeditiously as possible while maintaining requirements and standards for individuals in our care. CBP continues to work with our federal, state and local partners to minimize the impact to everyday trade and travel.

CBP Cuban processing background:

  • A Cuban citizen presents themselves for admission at a port of entry. The Cuban citizen must provide proof of their Cuban citizenship such as a Cuban passport, birth certificate. The burden of proof rests on the Cuban national to prove citizenship.
  • Once citizenship is established, CBP officers ask if they are a member of the Cuban regime, work for the Cuban government, among other questions.
  • CBP officers next take biometric finger scans of the subject and check against CBP's national law enforcement databases. If no derogatory information is returned, the process continues.
  • At the conclusion of the interview process, if no derogatory information is returned, such as criminal or existing U.S. immigration history or otherwise disqualifying factors are established, i.e. membership in Castro regime, use of fraudulent documents, etc. the person is processed for parole.

  • The CBP officer issues the traveler an I-94 parole document with the subject's temporary alien number written on the back. The parole document is valid for two years. At the completion of one year after inspection and admission to the U.S., the Cuban national may apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for adjustment of status under the Cuban Refugee Adjustment Act (CRAA) in order to submit an application for permanent U.S. residency.

  • The entire process takes approximately one hour per person


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