Cubans live under a bridge in Miami after a year of arrival. Photo: video recording.
Mercedes Dueñas crossed the border into the United States a year ago. According to her, she has applied for food assistance programs with the Department of Children and Families and the response has always been negative.
“I can’t take it anymore, I swear I can’t take it anymore, sleeping on the street like this, sleeping on the bridge, I have nowhere to relieve myself, I never thought this process would happen,” said the wife of channel miami 41.
Mercedes, who has lived in a corner under a bridge at Second Avenue and First Street in Southwest Miami for several months, has endured days of agony, fear and despair.
“Here I sleep, I have to urinate in a basin, in a car, at night I sleep here and when they take me out of here I have to sleep on the sidewalk,” he added.
The Cuban is under Form I-220A protection while her husband, who arrived months later, received humanitarian parole.
Neither legal avenue went forward, so immigration attorney Willy Allen offered legal advice.
“The lady is entitled to have received help from Children and Family Services, I don’t know why she has not received this help, she has also been in the United States for more than a year, she should have sought asylum before an immigration judge and have the opportunity to apply for their residency for a year and a day as well, there is no reason why Children and Family has not given them the help to settle in this country,” Allen said.
This couple has no family in Miami and months ago, Ms. Mercedes began suffering from various health issues.
“It’s a hernia, I don’t know if it’s a hernia that came to me here because I didn’t have it in Cuba, this hernia came to me here,” the woman said.
Mrs Mercedes was a cook in Cuba and her husband Omar Noriega was a welder. Today they are just waiting for someone to help them find a job and get on with their lives.
“I want a job where I can do whatever it takes to get ahead, which we don’t have because we don’t have Social Security or work permits, and since we don’t have help, what we’re left with is sleeping on the streets,” said Noriega.
And this Tuesday, attorney Willy Allen is meeting in person with the couple.