France, Nov. 1 -- The Florida Keys are a chain of coral islands at the southern tip of the "Sunshine State" of Florida, connected by a major highway. Less than 100km from Cuba, the islands are dotted with palm trees, coves filled with pleasure yachts and surf schools.

For Pierre-Marc Bellion, America - and the Keys - offered a way of life. For Raphael Garcia's parents, it offered an escape.

Today, both men run hospitality businesses in the region.

Their different histories have shaped their views of immigration and the political divisions surrounding it. A land of opportunity

"We fell in love with the weather, the water, the climate, the lifestyle," says Bellion, who co-owns the Cafe Moka in Tavernier, near Key Largo, with his wife. ...