52
integration. Diaz (1981) agrees with Rogg and Cooney (1980) that the
residents in the host country play an important role in the integration
of immigrants. If the local residents are themselves supportive, then
integration will be more rapid. If the residents are hostile and, for
example, move away when Cubans move into a neighborhood, then the
process of social integration is retarded.
Gallagher (1974) reviews statistics on crime in Dade County,
Florida, and finds that Cuban-Americans were very underrepresented in
all counts except reckless driving. He does, however, observe an
increase in crime within the Cuban-American community over the decade
of the 1960s. Gonzalez and McCoy's (1980) findings were similar; they
attribute increases in crime to drug trafficking and overcrowded living
conditions. Arguelles (1981) finds that Dade County is the center of
right-wing terrorism and a vast drug trafficking network masked by an
idealistic facade that gives the appearance that Cubans are well
established in the community. Alexander (1970) and the Heritage
Foundation (1980) conclude that in spite of the fact that Cuban-
Americans are resented and unwanted by some elements in Miami, they
have nevertheless established a good reputation as being law abiding,
ambitious, and strongly family oriented.
Transcending Ties with the Past
It is interesting to observe that some of the same behaviors which
Smith (1968) documents as occurring within the Cuban-American group
which arrived in the 1960s have also been documented by Rogg and
Cooney (1980) as occurring in the 1970s. Smith finds in his work with