Thousands of Cuban Refugees have come into El Paso, and more are expected to still come groups are now working to help refugees settle in the United States.
George arrived in El Paso from Cuba about 4 weeks ago, and is currently staying at the Ysleta Lutheran Mission at the San Pablo Lutheran Church in El Paso. He says he is looking forward to beginning a new life in America.
“In this place, we can begin to work,” George said. “Begin a new life, begin a new home.”
He says in Cuba it was hard to make money for basic things like food and clothing, and is excited to start looking for work as a Nurse in the U.S. He says the people of El Paso have been very welcoming.
“The people in your country is very happy,” George said. “They say hello, they are smiling when they know the people are Cuban.”
Pastor Karl Heimer of San Pablo Lutheran Church is from Cuba and a former Refugee himself, he says the people living in Cuba face many hardships.
“The communism keeps them from going from one place to another,” Heimer said. “They can get permission, and if they are caught doing something that they shouldn’t be doing they are punished and there is very little food, and everything costs even pairs of pants, shoes all these things are really pretty rare to be able to afford because they are receiving maybe $10, $15, up to $20 a month.”
Heimer says as a former Refugee he is happy to be helping people coming to the U.S. seeking freedom, and that El Paso is a good place for refugees to get their start.
“Because of the language,” Heimer said. “So many people here speak Spanish, and are bilingual, and I think that’s one of the most important things and I think that there are jobs, there are many things that they are able to do that can be part of this community because they have those skills to do it.”
Heimer says they have around 55 refugees staying at the Ysleta Lutheran Mission, while people are waiting to get settled with jobs or meet families throughout the United States. While there, they help them get to government offices, fill out paperwork, and provide food and clothing.
“Most everybody that I know is really happy to come to a place where they are there own workers,” Heimer says. “In other words they are the cooks, they are the ones who clean around the place is always spotless. There are people who are professionals in many ways, and they are going to be a great help to our society and this community here, those who stay here.”
Heimer says he hopes America will continue to support refugees who come to the United States seeking a better life.
“We also throughout history have always in the history provided places for people that are under the communist situation,” Heimer said. “They can come in here and we will provide a space for them, these are people that are free now that were not free then, and that’s what America was all about in terms of providing spaces for them, I pray that it doesn’t stop.”
Heimer says they are accepting donations, food and clothing to help the Refugees at San Pablo Lutheran Church in El Paso.
