Letter to Rosalynn Carter from Ana V. Suarez regarding family being separated during the Mariel Boatlift and if reunion and citizenship process is possible.

visa office State August 3, 1980 Dear Mrs. Carter, I imagine you must get hundreds or maybe thousands of letters asking for help. I hope that this one, though, may catch your eye because it is certainly a cause worth taking up. I am writing to you in name of my cousins, two little Cuban girls who came to the United States aboard the Mariel sealift. When the Cuban government sent them here, they left behind their parents. I guess this was the Cuban's way of harrassing a family who wanted to flee communism. As a reporter for oneof the Miami newspapers, my assignment was to keep a diary of their odyssey to the United States. (I am enclosing that story.) Yet, the odyssey nobody has written about is the one they started when they arrived here. The welcome they received is probably one they will never forget and I am sure that as they grow older they will learn to appreciate the generosity of the American people more and more. However, some problems still remain. Their parents are still in Cuba and the two little girls live here with their grandmother, an aunt and a great aunt. Our family is trying to do everything possible to get the children's parents out of Cuba. As you probably know, the immigration process sometimes takes a long time, several years in some instances. So far, the children have not been a burden to the U.S. government and we want to keep it that way. I think only their parents will be able to help them both economically and spiritually in the long run. You will agree that there is no substitute for a parent's love and support during the years a child is growing up. I realize there are laws we should all uphold but can't something be done to speed up their parents' entry into this country. Please, Mrs. Carter, I hope you take this into consideration and intercede on behalf of these children. The oldest girl, who is nine years old, wanted to write you a letter. I am enclosing her copy but since she writes only in Spanish, I would like to translate it for you: Dear Mrs. Carter: My name is Yipsyam Diaz and I am nine years old. This is all I can write in English. The rest I will write in Spanish. My mother and father are in Cuba and we are in the United States without them. We live with my grandmother. We miss my mother and father because they do not live with 2 us. My friends tell me that the president of this country can bring my parents to live with us. Can you do this for me and my sister. Kisses. Yipsyam. Yipsyam's sister is seven years old. Her name is Yiriam Diaz. Their parents, Arnalfo and Dulce Diaz, live at Sto. Tomas #360, El Cerro, Habana, Cuba. They have already been granted their exit visa by the Cuban government. This is effective for only three months and if they do not obtain a visa to another country, it may be years before they are allowed to leave Cuba again. I am sure you will need more information if you are kind enough to intercede for these children. Please do not hesitate to call me in Miami at my home at (305) 448-2939 or at work (305) 350-2136. The children can be reached at their home in Hialeah, 1391 W. 31 St., Lot #27, and at (305) 821-2306. Thank you in advance for anything you can do. Sincerely, ana Veciana Swarez Ana Veciana Suarez 4550 NW 9 St. #921 Miami, Fla. 33126 Querida Sra. CarTer: My name is tipsiam Diaz & am nine yeahs old. EsTo yo Se escribirlo en ingles. Ld demas Lo escribire on espanol. Mipapdy mi mamá es Tan en Cuba Y hoso'tros estamos en Estados Unidos sinellos. Vivimos coh mi abvela Nosotros echa mos demens aml mamá of a ml papa pongue no viven oon hosotros. M is amigas dicen que el precidente deestepais puede Travelos agu, panavivition noso tros. jpueden hasen usteeso bara me ymi her maha? Besos. yipsiah