The Cuban Adjustment Act (CAA) of 1966
Question 4
The Cuban Adjustment Act (CAA) was signed into law on 2nd November 1966 by president Lyndon B. Johnson. The CAA was a relief for Cubans who were seeking asylum in the United States from all the struggles associated with the Cold War.
Cuban-American migrants formed several communities around the locations where they found employment. Some of the enclaves formed include South Florida, where there were cigar-making centers. These enclaves are namely Miami enclave, West New York American-Cuban settlement, San Juan Puerto Rico, and New York.
One of the incentives by the Cuban Adjustment Act was work authorization and a permanent residency after a one-year presence in the States. The Act also allowed them access to resources for a proper life adjustment. Cuban migrants were mostly white, educated, and had an upper class back in Cuba. Their property had been seized by Fidel Castro, forcing them to flee without any property. The migrants who moved to the States took an active stand in politics against Castro’s regime and therefore pushed the political class forward. Politics faced an excellent paradigm shift, with many actively pushing against Fidel Castro’s agenda.
Secondly, since most of the Cuban migrants were the educated elite who had faced dire economic circumstances in Cuba after their properties were seized, the move to The United States assured them of safety and economic stability. They, therefore, started engaging in other economic activities. The other group of migrants was a majorly working class employed in factories such as the tobacco industry and artisans.
In conclusion, the enclaves that the migrants formed in a short span became economic hubs because of tobacco and sugar’s high production. The political refugees pushed political agenda while the working class and education elite enhanced the economic growth of these enclaves.