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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsUS (Obama) to end 'wet foot, dry foot' policy for Cubans
**It's about time!
Washington (CNN)President Barack Obama is ending the longstanding "wet foot, dry foot" policy that allows Cubans who arrive in the United States without a visa to become permanent residents, two senior US officials told CNN Thursday.
The policy has applied solely for Cubans. Other immigrants who attempt to enter the United States without a visa face arrest and deportation.
The decision was likely Obama's last move in his historic dealings with Cuba. In 2014, he reopened ties to the island nation after a half-century of frozen diplomatic ties.
Havana has long argued the policy encourages Cubans to make the dangerous crossing from Cuba to Florida.
The Cuban government has been informed of the decision to end the controversial policy towards Cuban refugees according to a senior Cuban government official.
The Department of Homeland Security has also eliminated a policy for Cuban medical professionals known as the Cuban Medical Professional Parole Program, according to a senior administration official.
It is now DHS policy to consider any requests for such parole in the same manner as parole requests filed by nationals of other countries.
DHS is also eliminating an exemption that previously prevented the use of expedited removal proceedings for Cuban nationals apprehended at ports of entry or near the border.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/12/politics/us-to-end-wet-foot-dry-foot-policy-for-cubans/
COLGATE4
(14,732 posts)malaise
(268,930 posts)Watching a Miami link.
Can't wait for the ReTHUG response. Oman has neutered them on this particular matter immigration.
flamingdem
(39,313 posts)Raul wants it to stop people from leaving, especially doctors.
Marco Rubio etc want it because too many future democrats are arriving from the island and those people are not as sparklin' white as the first wave of refugees.
Not sure about those who live in Miami, they probaby want their relatives to come over. I think a lot of Cubans would like it to remain but they've had lots of time to get out by now.
malaise
(268,930 posts)Interesting
Crunchy Frog
(26,579 posts)Vogon_Glory
(9,117 posts)I think it was a bad move on the part of President Obama. While I think wet foot/dry foot may have had utility for a while after the Cold War, the fact is that migrating Cubans have an unfair advantage that Latinos fleeing from the murderous narco-thugs of Central and South America don't have.
So why do I think Obama ending it is a bad move? Because OUR President, one of the more inclusive administrations in recent times, has a little over a week in office. Let the xenophobes, the bigots, the racists, the haters and immigrant-bashers of the incoming Trump regime have the opprobrium of ending it.
tritsofme
(17,376 posts)I wonder if there are "assurances" from the Trump team that this won't be rolled back?
Vogon_Glory
(9,117 posts)What's in it for the Trumpkins in reversing wet foot/dry foot? The votes of a shrinking percentage of the Cuban emigre block? That's offset by newly empowered bigots and xenophobes who turned out not only in Florida, (FLORIDA!!!), and other states to show how much they hate Latinos and other immigrant/minority groups.
The aging pro-Trump Cuban emigrees are about to be reminded that when you lie down with dogs, you wake up with fleas--and at least some of them are going to get bitten.
flamingdem
(39,313 posts)I doubt he'll do much about Cuba except pretend.. to please the hardliners and get support from Rubio elsewhere. Maybe some saber rattling.
flamingdem
(39,313 posts)imo
superpatriotman
(6,247 posts)I applaud this decision.
The South Miami cartel, however...
flamingdem
(39,313 posts)but they don't like all those Cubans coming from the island really. It's a racial thing and they are more likely to vote Democratic.
obamanut2012
(26,068 posts)About time.