Cuban and Dominican migration to Puerto Rico is a recent example of the intra-Caribbean movements initiated over 200 yr ago. This article argues that migration within the Caribbean is as important as migration outside the region. To begin, the historical literature shows that intra-Caribbean migration preceded the movement to North America and Europe. Furthermore, migration within the region has always been heterogeneous in its socioeconomic composition and motivations. The present essay examines the similarities and differences between Cubans and Dominicans in Puerto Rico. Its objectives are to determine the magnitude of the flows, describe the migrants' residential patterns, analyze their mode of incorporation into the labor market, assess their socioeconomic origins, and evaluate their reasons for migrating. The article concludes that intra-Caribbean migration continues to provide a significant avenue for social mobility within the region. -Author
