To be an American!
5 of the 10 Cuban Refugee's just after arriving on Bird Key April 25, 2016
Mark A Middleton
It is humbling to acknowledge that there are people in the world that want to come to your country so bad that they are willing to actually risk their lives and freedom for a chance to get here. During a sailing trip to the Dry Tortugas on April 25, 2016 I encountered this first hand as 10 Cuban Refugee's landed a "Chug" on Bird Key just off Fort Jefferson and clambered out of their boat to American freedom. The United States has a policy that until recently I was unaware of, it is called "Wet foot, Dry foot" simply meaning any vessels intercepting Cuban refugee's at sea would be repatriated to Cuba (wet foot) and any cuban Refugee's making it to shore with at least one dry foot would be allowed to remain in America; given food and clothing, a work visa, and after one year expedited American citizenship.
The guys I sailed down with from Port Richey and I watched as the U.S. Navy landed a helicopter at the famous Fort Jefferson and unloaded supplies including clothing and a cooler with the words Cuban Water written on top. Shortly after landing and walking up the beach on Bird Key escorted by a National Park Ranger (The Dry Tortugas is a National Park), the 10 Refugee's were given white Dupont Tyvek outfits and sandals, offered water and an opportunity to smoke a cigarette. I was pleased to see that the park rangers treated these people with respect and were concerned for their well-being. I had plenty of opportunity to speak with the men in both Spanish and English and listened as they told me their journey across the Florida Straits took them 30 hours. Only one man had a life jacket and he wore it! As I took their photo you could see they were overjoyed to have made it here. Later in the day I took the paddleboard over to Bird Key and got as close as I could to the Chug to take a few photos of the vessel that lent these men a chance at the American Dream.
We set sail for Key West the following morning and as the lighthouse on Loggerhead Key became smaller and smaller until finally disappearing altogether I sat in disbelief at the courage these Cuban people show by making such a journey. I tried to wrap my mind around how treacherous life in Cuba must be to make such a desperate escape. I imagined how many refugee's never hit that tiny spot of land and lose their lives in the attempt. I reflected on how grateful I was to once more be at just the right place at the right time to witness the arrival of 10 new Americans. As Fort Jefferson slipped past the horizon I felt an overwhelming gratitude that by the accident of my birth I inherited all it means to be an American!
A Cuban home-made boat known as a Chug landed on Bird Key April, 25, 2016