Thousands of Cuban immigrants who have arrived in the United States in recent years have chosen to live in Houston and not in Miami or other Florida cities, attracted by an affordable cost of living and good job opportunities.
The Cuban population is one of those that has grown the most in the Texas city, and if between 2006 to 2019 there were about 10,000 Cubans, from 2017 to 2021 the figure reached 34,000, reveals a 2023 report from the Migration Policy Institute.
Adolfo Rodríguez, director of the non-profit organizationCuba House, which provides technical training and English classes to newcomers, settled in the city in the 1960s and has witnessed how the Cuban population has increased.
"I imaginethere will be about 100,000 Cubans here", he revealed to the portalHouston Landing.
In his opinion, something very attractive about Houston is the ease of working, especially in the health field.
"They get decent jobs here, you know, and you can live here. Making $15 an hour here is better than someone making $15 an hour in Florida," he said.
A 55-year-old nurse namedKirina Rodríguez She said she came to Houston in 2007, after qualifying for a refugee resettlement program that placed her there because of her experience in the health sector.
She has also seen how much the Cuban community has grown in the city.
"Now you can find Cuban food, which you couldn't find anywhere before. You can find a Cuban working in a hospital as a doctor or nurse. You can find a Cuban working for NASA. You can find Cubans everywhere," he said.
Another organization that helps emigrants adjust to living in the United States is The Alliance, which offers them cash assistance, medical support, and job training services.
In the year that is now ending, it has served almost 3,000 Cubans.
On the other hand, the Houston field office of US Customs and Border Protection reported that 3,872 Cubans were detained or subjected to deportation proceedings in fiscal year 2023, a figure that was only 23 in 2022 and 17 in 2021. .
In addition to Houston, in the city ofLouisville, Kentucky, has seen a massive influx of Cubans in the last two years thanks to abundant jobs, a relatively low cost of living and community support.
According to himNew York Times, at this time some 30,000 Cubans have settled in Jefferson County, and "they represent the largest immigrant group in Louisville."
The reasons Cubans choose this destination are fundamentally economic.
Many of the newcomers are working at companies such as GE Appliances, Amazon and United Parcel Service, which have large operations in the area. Thanks to this influx, entrepreneurs have revitalized shopping centers with new small businesses.
What do you think?
COMMENTFiled in: