Miami

Woman Spent Decades Without Proper Residency Documents

Living undocumented in this country isn't easy but generally it's a struggle Cuban immigrants can avoid through the Cuban Adjustment Act. That's not the case for South Floridian Maria de Los Angeles. She's a Cuban immigrant living here for decades but unable to get her residency.

"Like a dog without an owner. That's how I feel, I swear," says Maria.

Maria’s case isn't isolated--Cuban immigrants living in the U.S. for decades, who should be on a fast track to social services are unable to because they’re caught in legal limbo.

Maria lost her eyesight a few years ago due to lack of medical care that she couldn't afford. She tried to apply for Medicaid and other government assistance that Cuban-born immigrants like her normally get, but has been turned down because she doesn’t qualify because of her residency issue.

Maria's daughter, Maria Rivas, shares a tiny efficiency with her and says it's been tough keeping up her mother's medical bills.

“So difficult for us. So difficult. We have no money. We have almost no food", said Rivas.

“It’s as if I’ve killed someone or did something terrible and the only thing I’ve done is work hard. I’ve never committed a crime. This is the crime they’ve put on me," Maria said.

Maria is talking about the mistake she unknowingly made when she entered the US 28 years ago. With the help of a paid guide, she traveled from Panama to the US-Mexican border and in Texas boarded a plane to Miami but failed to follow-up with immigration officials and get what’s called a parole…a requirement to apply for residency under the Cuban Adjustment Act.

“It is frustrating," says Patricia Wall, an immigration attorney with the non-profit organization CASA. Wall says she regularly sees cases like this—Cubans living in the US for decades in legal limbo.

“Yes, the government knows they are here but they have not been neither admitted nor paroled, therefore they can’t do anything. They’re what we call 'entry without inspection' and not eligible for anything," says Wall.

Like Maria, these immigrants can build their lives here without issues until they need government assistance.

“Now she’s in a situation where she needs some sort of Medicaid or Medicare and it won’t be given to her until she legalizes herself," says Wall.

The family says they’ve been unable to afford an attorney to help fix the problem. So wall agreed to take on Maria's case pro bono. A relief to Maria’s family.

“So important for me. Dream come true," said Rivas.

The pair hopes Maria’s legal status will be cleared in a few months so she can finally get her residency and the assistance she needs.

“So, so, so happy I can’t tell you what I feel inside me," said Rivas." Me too," said Maria.

Wall says not paying attention to immigration’s deadlines and rules can have devastating consequences for families. She suggests people get legal advice. If you can’t afford legal assistance, organizations like CASA provide discounted legal help: http://casa-us.org/

Below is a list of other organizations that provide assistance at discounted rates:

http://legalservicesmiami.org/
http://www.aijustice.org/
http://cclsmiami.org/
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