Cuban opinions have shifted, says poll

By: Yeskanisayka Urbina/Staff Writer

 

In the University’s 13th annual Cuba Poll, surveyors found a significant difference in the perspectives of Cubans in newer generations, particularly ones born in the U.S.

The purpose of the survey’s results is to view how Cuban-Americans that reside in South Florida view U.S. policies toward Cuba.

The survey is sponsored by the Cuban Research Institute, Office of the President, Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center, and includes 1,001 randomly selected Cuban-Americans residents to answer the survey through telephone, cell, and landline.

Through first, second, and third generations, the survey displayed results from how many Cuban-Americans voted in the midterm elections, what generation hopes for the U.S. to expand businesses with Cuba, and the most recently added question: what motivates them to vote?

The survey not only shows the differences in beliefs of foreign policies and their perspective on the U.S. Embargo within those generations, but also the increase in the Republican parties since 2016.

“A lot of Cuban-Americans registered as Independent behave like Democrats, but more behave like Republicans,” said Guillermo J. Grenier, professor of sociology and chair of the Department of Global and Sociocultural Studies at the university.

The survey also asked Cuban-American residents on their support of the termination of the wet foot, dry foot policy.

The wet foot, dry foot policy is a policy that was passed as the Adjustment Act of 1966. It allowed any Cuban who set foot on American soil to receive political asylum and be able to apply for residency.

The policy was terminated by President Barack Obama in 2017.

Measured by migration and birth, the survey displayed how the third generation, 55 percent not born in Cuba, support for the termination.

“The second and third generation have this in common with immigrants,” said Dr. Grenier in regards to the results for the wet foot, dry foot policy.

The midterm elections also saw many Cuban-Americans voting Republican with those registered as Independent also voting Republican.

The survey shows that during the midterm election, 46.7 percent of Cuban-Americans were motivated to vote for a better economy and jobs, while 29.3 percent voted for healthcare and 23.7 percent voted for gun control.

The survey shows that along with Cuban-American residents leaning more towards a Republican party, it shows the division there is between the Cuban community in South Florida.

The survey’s results were based on questions about the U.S. embargo, establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba, and if they believe unrestricted travel by all Americans to Cuba should be allowed or not.

No questions were asked about Trump.

“I know I was worried about the Trump issue,” said Hugh Gladwin, the former director of the Institute for Public Opinion Research and former Associate Professor in the Department of Global and Sociocultural Studies.

“One reason polling itself is having a huge problem with what’s been going on and we do this poll on our own. We know we have to keep the methodology good.”

The 2018 Cuba Poll results can be viewed on cri.fiu.edu