Atlanta Daily World

Cuban Refugee Influx
Seen Threat To Economy

WASHINGTON - The mounting influx of Cuban refugees and escapees from the Castro regime in the past two years at greater economic threat to economic security of Negroes in the Dade County, Fla. area a Senate sub-Committee was told here on Dec. 7.

The assertion was contained in testimony by H. Daniel Lang, executive director of the Greater Miami Urban League at a hearing conducted by the Senate Sub Committee on Refugees and Escapees.

"In Dade County, Miami, the Negro worker forms the largest number of bottom-of-the-ladder laborers or marginal workers," Mr. Lang told the Senators, adding he had noted a sharp uptrend in allegations by Negroes that they are being "systematically pushed out of jobs to make room for Cubans" who accept the employment "at reduced rates".

He said he has found considerable resentment and hostility in the Negro community toward the migrating Cubans who, they charge, are receiving preferential treatment in school and other facilities.

The U.L. official told the Sub-Committee there is a widespread feeling that the Cubans are enjoying freedom of choice and other advantages which have been denied Negroes, thereby seriously curtailing equal opportunity in an area where unemployment rates for Negroes are approximately twice those for whites.

Mr. Lang expressed the opinion that the problem arising from the Cuban influx demands attention involving "a closer look at the causes and their resolution." He assured the Senators that facilities and cooperation of the Miami League are available to aid in plans to remedy the situation.