Refugee Flood: Florida Sends SOS
State officials Friday urged the federal government to assume financial responsibility for the continuing flood of Nicaraguan refugees into South Florida.
About 5,000 refugees--mostly from El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala--are expected to travel to South Florida from South Texas after a court ruling that allows them to travel within the United States. Refugees by the hundreds began arriving at Miami bus stations this week.
“The current (immigration) system is out of control and unfair to Florida,” said Sen. Bob Graham (D-Fla.). “If Washington learned anything from Mariel, it’s that America must have an immigration policy based on order and fairness.”
More than 125,000 Cubans arrived in South Florida between April and October of 1980 in the boatlift from Mariel, Cuba. In Miami, local and county officials were looking for ways to deal with expected demands for housing, health care, schools and police protection.
Gov. Bob Martinez, in a letter to Atty. Gen. Dick Thornburgh, said the latest influx will cost Florida taxpayers about $20 million.
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