Local veterans protest Cuban refugees

Local veterans protest Cuban refugees
Updated: Tue 11:00 PM, Jan 19, 2016
By: Yocelin Gallardo

LAREDO, TEXAS (KGNS) - It's been almost a week since Cuban refugees
started crossing into the U.S. here in Laredo, but on Tuesday, a local
group is voicing their concerns over the issue.

Veterans came together Tuesday morning to protest the refugees at the
Laredo port of entry.

On Tuesday morning a crowd of veterans gathered by bridge number one,
where it is known for Cubans to hang around at, to express their
concerns about benefits the refugees are receiving.

Angel Yoandre drove from Miami to Laredo to pick up family members who
traveled from Cuba to the Laredo port of entry.
At the international bridge number one Yoandre was greeted by local
veterans protesting the arrivals of Cuban refugees.

"We don't feel welcomed honestly we just come to work and to thrive for
our family", said Yoandre.

Tuesday was the first of many protest the veterans say they will have
–to express their disagreement with the recent surge of Cubans arriving
to the united states.

"We don't know if ISIS or Al Qaeda has infiltrated Cuba and now they're
sending their terrorism and we are opening the door for them", said
local veteran Gabriel Lopez.

Something Yoandre believes is a strong accusation towards Cubans

"You have never heard of Cuban terrorize. Terrorism does not exist in
Cuba its unheard of, in Cuba there is no terrorism", said Yoandre.

The veterans claim Cubans are being let in to the country too easily and
are being granted more benefits than veterans.

"They get Medicaid they get food stamps housing when we have veterans
that only have the VA health care", said Lopez

Something congressman Henry Cuellar agrees with.

"These people are getting immediate benefits. They apply for immediate
benefits when some veterans in some places of the country have been
waiting for certain benefits", said Cuellar.

Cuellar says the 1966 Cuban Adjustment Act, allows Cubans to apply for
federal benefits once they come into the United States.

"Any other immigrants don't get that. In one year they become legal
residents know no other immigrant group gets that", said Cuellar.

Something Cuellar says he is aiming to change in congress.

"We have a change the long take those benefits away and certainly make
sure that we don't treat those folks better that we are treating our
veterans", said Cuellar.

But for now local veterans say they will continue to push too see change
for veterans.

"It's what happens, it's freedom of speech", said Yoandre.

Cuellar says he is co sponsoring a bill that would change the benefits
Cuban refugees receive once in the country, but says he fears the lack
of change congress has done for immigration could delay that.

We reached out to the U.S. Homeland Security to ask about the exact
process Cubans refugees go through before being let into the country,
they have not answered our request.

Source: Local veterans protest Cuban refugees -
http://www.kgns.tv/home/headlines/vet-protest-365809111.html