St. Croix Red Cross assists 14 Cubans requesting asylum
Published: March 22, 2013
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ST. CROIX - The American Red Cross released a statement Thursday saying that its volunteers on St. Croix had assisted 14 Cubans, who came to the island Tuesday night seeking refuge.
The Red Cross said its volunteers helped with first aid items, meals, cots and clothes.
The Red Cross statement did not say how or where the Cubans arrived or how the Red Cross got involved.
Red Cross volunteers had been collaborating with other agencies to provide the Cubans "with the necessary commodities for their well-being," according to the statement.
V.I. Human Services Commissioner Christopher Finch said Thursday night that his agency had been one of those involved in helping the new arrivals.
Human Services assessed the Cubans' need for financial aid, particularly Food Stamps, he said.
"I guess they're requesting asylum," Finch said. "And as we understand the regulations, when someone's requesting asylum from a country where the U.S. will accept it, they're entitled to public benefits, so we started the process."
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