Family Who Tried Floating Truck to U.S. Now in
Miami via Mexico From Costa Rica
A Cuban family that twice tried to reach
Florida with vehicles converted into boats has made it to Miami, this
time coming overland via Mexico from Costa Rica, the family's lawyer
said.
Luis Grass, his wife Isora Hernandez and their five-year-old son Angel
Luis Grass Hernandez, entered the U.S. though the Texas - Mexico border
on March 12.
They were held in custody in Brownsville, Texas until Sunday. They
traveled to Miami on Monday after being released on parole for
humanitarian reasons. They will be allowed to apply for permanent
residence in 2006.
The Grass family's voyage to America began in 2003 when they and others
tried to cross the Florida Straits aboard a bright green 1951 Chevy
pickup, which Luis Grass had converted into a boat. They were
intercepted by the Coast Guard and sent back to Cuba. The Coast Guard
then sunk the Chevy-boat.
Under U.S. immigration policy, Cubans who reach U.S. shores generally
are allowed to stay while those caught at sea are usually returned.
In February 2004 Grass made a second attempt to get to the United States
illegally - this time aboard a floating Buick sedan powering another
homemade boat.
Again, they were intercepted. This time the Grass family was taken to
the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo and the other would-be migrants aboard
the Buick were returned to Cuba. The Buick was sunk.
"If he had to make a choice between the frustration of living in Cuba
and the fear of dying at sea, he chose dying at sea," said Wilfredo
Allen, Grass' family lawyer.
After interviews showed that the Grass family had a credible fear of
persecution if they were sent home, the U.S. held them at Guantanamo
until a third country, in this case Costa Rica, agreed to grant safe
haven.
The family lived in Costa Rica until last month, making their way into
Mexico and to Texas by bus and hitchhiking.
Allen said the Grass family will "begin the process of legalization,"
and Luis will apply for a work permit.
Allen said Grass' "greatest frustration was that he was stuck at sea and
he was not able to land in Miami and drive up to the beach."
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