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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPuerto Rico's Exodus Begins with a Trickle Into Orlando
Back on the stricken island, thousands of desperate refugees clamor for a lifeline to safety in Florida.
By FRANCISCO ALVARADO September 29, 2017
ORLANDOA few times a day, on no particular schedule, a plane pulls up to a gate at the airport here and disgorges a hundred and fifty or more exhausted, anxious, and very often hungry people. Only three hours before, they were among thousands of panicked storm victims, packed into a sweltering airport in San Juan, clamoring for an $800 seat on anything with wings that might ferry them away from the devastation left nine days ago by Hurricane Maria. Now, in the air-conditioned comfort of Concourse D, they are safe in a country that is technically their own, but they are not home.
The halting parade of evacuees that has passed through the Orlando airport over the past weekand through Miamis airport, toolacks the visual drama of earlier crises in the Caribbean, when oppression, natural disaster or plain desperation pushed Cubans and Haitians onto crude homemade rafts or into the holds of leaky fishing trawlers. But this is every bit an exodus of that order. The means of escape is not a harrowing ordeal, but whats being left behind most certainly is. And those lucky enough to get out are not so exhausted that they cant summon anger at the government officials who they feel paid them less heed than hurricane victims on the mainland.
When Roberto Marquez and his wife Lourdes arrived at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan around 5:30 a.m. on September 25, they found utter chaos. There were a few thousand people already there, the 53-year-old attorney said. There was no power, no ventilation, no cell service and no security guards. Just airline employees sort of winging it.
The couple had tried to leave Puerto Rico before Hurricane Maria slammed into the island five days earlier, but were unable to find available seats. After the storm with its 155-mile-per-hour winds passed, Marquez was able to reach his sister in Florida, who booked two tickets on a Southwest Airlines flight scheduled to depart on September 22. It was cancelled because the airport had not reopened. Two days later, when a few flights resumed, Marquez and his spouse drove to the airport. We had to physically be there in order to get on a list for a flight on Monday, he said. On Monday, we were told to get in a long line of people who were being picked to get on a plane on a first-come, first-served basis.
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http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/09/29/puerto-ricos-exodus-maria-orlando-215659
greeny2323
(590 posts)I wish them the best in their new lives, whether it is here on the mainland, back in Puerto Rico or wherever they go.
However, if they wish to stay in Florida and push to the state toward the Democrats I'd be happy with that , too.
Madam45for2923
(7,178 posts)Baitball Blogger
(46,700 posts)them a fair chance to set roots. Just my opinion.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)As many Hispanics as any other group are conservative by nature, and of course the larger and more powerful a group becomes the less its conservatives feel a need to vote against Republicans for protection. Still, for now, if they only choose to come out and vote in higher numbers in 2018 and 2020 they could make a huge difference.
mitch96
(13,892 posts)Hummmm.... Fla is close so we could render assistance?? maybe
After reading a bit I see that an influx from the island might tip the balance in Florida, which is a swing state. Puerto Rican's tend to vote Democratic.. Not good for Scott or tRump...
HA! Keep up with the tweets there donnie..
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Madam45for2923
(7,178 posts)mitch96
(13,892 posts)roamer65
(36,745 posts)IronLionZion
(45,427 posts)I hope these people get to have good lives in Florida, housing, jobs, etc. Because I doubt any of these US citizens would vote for the party of Trump.
flamingdem
(39,313 posts)Don't know how that works if they are from PR. Assuming it's about residency, but maybe it has to be official residency and some will not take that step.
The dems need to be out in force helping them and welcoming them. Florida looking bluer
IronLionZion
(45,427 posts)Once their residency is one of our 50 states, they can register to vote. Florida will try to make it difficult somehow but where there's a will there's a way. Once they are settled into their new lives they will remember how Trump treated them.
Yupster
(14,308 posts)The population of Puerto Rico has been dropping for years. I'm sure this will accelerate it.
Is it time to buy real estate in Puerto Rico yet?