Caught driving from Cuba to the USA

rubber · 02-04-2004, 08:02 PM

Taken from the Globe and Mail

Cubans keep driving to Florida

Miami — Two Cubans who tried to sail to Florida in a truck converted to a pontoon boat last year have made another attempt, this time piloting a seagoing 1950s-era Buick.

Marciel Basanta Lopez and Luis Grass Rodriguez, who were sent back to Cuba in July after they failed to reach Florida in a converted 1951 Chevy pickup, were apparently at the helm of the newest vehicle-boat conversion.

The U.S. Coast Guard refused Wednesday to confirm the status of the tailfinned car or the origin of photos of it in the water that were broadcast on television Tuesday. U.S. policy prevents the disclosure of information on such cases until they are resolved, such as by sending the participants back to their home countries, Petty Officer Sandra Bartlett said.

Under U.S. immigration policy, Cubans who reach U.S. shores are allowed to stay, while those caught at sea are usually returned.

The Miami Herald said the 1959 Buick was nearly halfway to Key West by Tuesday evening. Key West is 90 nautical miles (about 167 kilometres) from Havana, but it was not immediately clear where on Cuba the group had set out to sea.

Relatives in Cuba told Mr. Basanta's cousin, Kiriat Lopez, who lives in Lake Worth, that they knew the men were planning a second escape attempt.

“My cousin isn't crazy. He wants to be free,” Mr. Lopez told the newspaper. “That's how crazy he is.”

He said the two men and nine other people — including five children — left Cuba on Monday night. “They've been waiting the past two weeks for good weather,” he said.

Last summer, the two men were joined by seven other men, two women and one small child.

The Chevy pickup they used then was kept afloat by empty 55-gallon drums attached to the bottom as pontoons. A propeller attached to the drive shaft pushed it along at about 13 kilometres an hour.

After the Coast Guard intercepted them about 65 kilometres off Key West, the pickup was sunk to keep it from becoming a hazard to other vessels.

--------------------------------------------

Interesting article but it's the last line that interests me. Shouldn't they have pulled/hauled the truck back to shore and disposed of it properly instead of letting the oil, gas, etc. slowly pollute its final resting place. I know it's not a lot in the grand scheme of things but this is really not a fine example set by a government agency.

c

twilightfadez · 02-04-2004, 08:10 PM

that's so sad

they should be let in. it breaks my heart. those poor people

ReadMusic · 02-04-2004, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rubber
Interesting article but it's the last line that interests me. Shouldn't they have pulled/hauled the truck back to shore and disposed of it properly instead of letting the oil, gas, etc. slowly pollute its final resting place. I know it's not a lot in the grand scheme of things but this is really not a fine example set by a government agency.

Chances are if it made it that far along the sea it was probably drained of oil, gas, etc. before they set it afloat to begin with.

Crono · 02-04-2004, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by twilightfadez
that's so sad
they should be let in. it breaks my heart. those poor people

I'm not trying to pick a fight, but that's a stupid attitude. I will never want and uneducated flow of immigrants coming into this country just becaue they were born in Cuba, or Mexico, or anywhere else. We do not need to open our boarders to those who have a worse quality of life unless extreme circumstances exist, and we have policies for those situations.

twilightfadez · 02-04-2004, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Crono

I'm not trying to pick a fight, but that's a stupid attitude. I will never want and uneducated flow of immigrants coming into this country just becaue they were born in Cuba, or Mexico, or anywhere else. We do not need to open our boarders to those who have a worse quality of life unless extreme circumstances exist, and we have policies for those situations.

i'm sure you'll change your mind the day all you have to eat is ground chicken bones and feathers for lunch.

Axis of Action · 02-04-2004, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Crono

I'm not trying to pick a fight, but that's a stupid attitude. I will never want and uneducated flow of immigrants coming into this country just becaue they were born in Cuba, or Mexico, or anywhere else. We do not need to open our boarders to those who have a worse quality of life unless extreme circumstances exist, and we have policies for those situations.

The truth is, they do a lot of things we don't necessarily want to do. There's a lot sides to the issue, but every part of the capitalistic pyramid counts (as much as it may disgust either your or I) and certainly the bottom is extremely important.

Mason R Butler · 02-04-2004, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Crono

I'm not trying to pick a fight, but that's a stupid attitude. I will never want and uneducated flow of immigrants coming into this country just becaue they were born in Cuba, or Mexico, or anywhere else. We do not need to open our boarders to those who have a worse quality of life unless extreme circumstances exist, and we have policies for those situations.

Dude, guys that can turn a car into a boat aren't necessarily uneducated.

MstrGhost · 02-04-2004, 10:52 PM

Quote:

We do not need to open our boarders to those who have a worse quality of life unless extreme circumstances exist, and we have policies for those situations.

I love to see this kind of words comming from someone in a country founded by poor people who saw the new world as an opportunity to settle their lives since they were starving in their countries, ex convicts, religious fanatics and people of all kinds from everywere you can imagine. But you should know it better than me.

Nimrod's Son · 02-04-2004, 10:54 PM

No pictures?

rubber · 02-05-2004, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nimrod's Son
No pictures?

sure...

Affectation · 02-05-2004, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rubber
--------------------------------------------

Interesting article but it's the last line that interests me. Shouldn't they have pulled/hauled the truck back to shore and disposed of it properly instead of letting the oil, gas, etc. slowly pollute its final resting place. I know it's not a lot in the grand scheme of things but this is really not a fine example set by a government agency.

c

We pollute a lot more than that. It's a negligible amount of fuel/oil.

Egadsman · 02:42 AM

Considering how lazy (in mind and body), without ambition and unmotivated your normal post WII American is, I think having someone in the country with that much perseverance would be an incredible benefit to this country. We need more people like that. It's incredible what people in this country take for granted. It sometimes takes a human being like these people to truly point it out. Fuck, I hope they make it and stay. It's a blessing to have in the United States people that appreciative what we have been given, but most, for some reason, choose to ignore.

rubber · 02-05-2004, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Affectation
We pollute a lot more than that. It's a negligible amount of fuel/oil.

It all adds up, dickhead.

noir cat · 02-05-2004, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mason R Butler
Dude, guys that can turn a car into a boat aren't necessarily uneducated.

Right!
If they are that inventive, then I think they should be accepted.

There should be a test for immigrants to see how creative they could be to be accepted in this country...

twilightfadez · 02-05-2004, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mason R Butler

Dude, guys that can turn a car into a boat aren't necessarily uneducated.

agreed. that mentality that everyone that comes outside from your own country is inferior in every way really makes me sad.

Nimrod · 02-05-2004, 01:43 PM

Unless they can throw a wicked curveball, we don't need them in our country.

twilightfadez · 02-05-2004, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nimrod
Unless they can throw a wicked curveball, we don't need them in our country.

our country is made up of people that have migrated into it for years. why is everyone so close minded.

Egadsman · 02-05-2004, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by twilightfadez

our country is made up of people that have migrated into it for years. why is everyone so close minded.

If 1) Welfare was reformed 2) We weren't at war, I would completely endorce an open border policy. I have no idea why people are think so lowly of immigrants.

Nimrod · 02-05-2004, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by twilightfadez

our country is made up of people that have migrated into it for years. why is everyone so close minded.

It was great when there were a lot of rooms available. The Inn is almost full.

There are too many current citizens without jobs, going hungry, on public assistance, etc. America is starting to become the "land of opportunity" only for those who weren't born here.

meow · 02-05-2004, 02:11 PM

Damn. Just think of how much money they could have gotten for that vehicle on ebay.

Mayfuck · 02-05-2004, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by twilightfadez

our country is made up of people that have migrated into it for years. why is everyone so close minded.

It's just those people like Nimrod's Son who are adamant about preserving the white race and get paranoid over all the dark people who are coming into this country. However, reasonable anti-immigration folk like me know there are serious economic consequences to immigrants coming here at an alarming rate (we pay their health care and benefits) As much as I'd like to be a humanitarian nation we have to put our own needs first.

Nimrod · 02-05-2004, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mayfuck

It's just those people like Nimrod's Son who are adamant about preserving the white race and get paranoid over all the dark people who are coming into this country.

There are plenty of white Cubans. Stop making everything about race. You're the biggest racist on here.

Mayfuck · 02-05-2004, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nimrod
There are plenty of white Cubans. Stop making everything about race. You're the biggest racist on here.

Shutup honkey.

02-04-2004, 08:02 PM	#1
rubber Ownz Location: Canada Posts: 799	Caught driving from Cuba to the USA Taken from the Globe and Mail Cubans keep driving to Florida Miami — Two Cubans who tried to sail to Florida in a truck converted to a pontoon boat last year have made another attempt, this time piloting a seagoing 1950s-era Buick. Marciel Basanta Lopez and Luis Grass Rodriguez, who were sent back to Cuba in July after they failed to reach Florida in a converted 1951 Chevy pickup, were apparently at the helm of the newest vehicle-boat conversion. The U.S. Coast Guard refused Wednesday to confirm the status of the tailfinned car or the origin of photos of it in the water that were broadcast on television Tuesday. U.S. policy prevents the disclosure of information on such cases until they are resolved, such as by sending the participants back to their home countries, Petty Officer Sandra Bartlett said. Under U.S. immigration policy, Cubans who reach U.S. shores are allowed to stay, while those caught at sea are usually returned. The Miami Herald said the 1959 Buick was nearly halfway to Key West by Tuesday evening. Key West is 90 nautical miles (about 167 kilometres) from Havana, but it was not immediately clear where on Cuba the group had set out to sea. Relatives in Cuba told Mr. Basanta's cousin, Kiriat Lopez, who lives in Lake Worth, that they knew the men were planning a second escape attempt. “My cousin isn't crazy. He wants to be free,” Mr. Lopez told the newspaper. “That's how crazy he is.” He said the two men and nine other people — including five children — left Cuba on Monday night. “They've been waiting the past two weeks for good weather,” he said. Last summer, the two men were joined by seven other men, two women and one small child. The Chevy pickup they used then was kept afloat by empty 55-gallon drums attached to the bottom as pontoons. A propeller attached to the drive shaft pushed it along at about 13 kilometres an hour. After the Coast Guard intercepted them about 65 kilometres off Key West, the pickup was sunk to keep it from becoming a hazard to other vessels. -------------------------------------------- Interesting article but it's the last line that interests me. Shouldn't they have pulled/hauled the truck back to shore and disposed of it properly instead of letting the oil, gas, etc. slowly pollute its final resting place. I know it's not a lot in the grand scheme of things but this is really not a fine example set by a government agency. c

02-04-2004, 08:10 PM	#2
twilightfadez Socialphobic Location: Medellin, CO Posts: 10,511	that's so sad they should be let in. it breaks my heart. those poor people __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. // To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

02-04-2004, 10:54 PM	#9
Nimrod's Son Master of Karate and Friendship Location: in your butt Posts: 72,943	No pictures? __________________ - Nimrod's Son: Problem Solver!

02-05-2004, 02:38 AM	#12
Egadsman Apocalyptic Poster Location: Moist and Bouyant. Posts: 1,967	Considering how lazy (in mind and body), without ambition and unmotivated your normal post WII American is, I think having someone in the country with that much perseverance would be an incredible benefit to this country. We need more people like that. It's incredible what people in this country take for granted. It sometimes takes a human being like these people to truly point it out. Fuck, I hope they make it and stay. It's a blessing to have in the United States people that appreciative what we have been given, but most, for some reason, choose to ignore. Last edited by Egadsman : 02-05-2004 at 02:42 AM.

02-05-2004, 01:43 PM	#16
Nimrod Macho Business Donkey Wrestler Location: the cross i'm bearing home 'aint indicative of my place Posts: 5,410	Unless they can throw a wicked curveball, we don't need them in our country.

02-05-2004, 02:11 PM	#20
meow Netflix Me Location: Human Skull! Posts: 27,712	Damn. Just think of how much money they could have gotten for that vehicle on ebay.