MIAMI REP. FRANK ARTILES CALLS FOR END TO "WET-FOOT, DRY-FOOT" POLICY

[Mika]

MIAMI REP. FRANK ARTILES CALLS FOR END TO "WET-FOOT, DRY-FOOT" POLICY

In light of thawing relations between Cuba and the United States, state Rep. Frank Artiles is now calling for an end to the decades-old "wet-foot, dry-foot" policy regarding immigration from Cuba. The Republican, who represents portions of western Miami-Dade County, has filed a non-binding "memorial" ahead of next year's state legislative session calling on the U.S. House of Representatives to officially repeal the practice.

"This law provides Cuban migrants with an advantage that migrants of other nationalities do not have," reads Artiles' proposal. "At the time the law was enacted, the Cuban government was not recognized by the United States, the countries did not maintain diplomatic relations, travel between the countries was severely restricted, and Cuban migrants were refugees from political oppression during the Cold War.

"The Cold War has ended, the United States has recognized the Cuban government, and both countries now maintain diplomatic relations."

Officially known as the Cuban Adjustment Act, the law was passed in 1966 and gave Cubans special preference in immigration. A 1995 revision gave way to the "wet-foot, dry-foot" policy. Essentially, if a Cuban is caught on water trying to come to America by U.S. officials they are repatriated. If they make it to land, they are giving permanent resident status after a year in the country.

Entire article --> here.

[COLGATE4]

1. Dropping this artifact from the old Cold War days

is long long overdue. No reason Cubans should get preferential treatment among all other nationalities.

[Mika]

2. Check out this Sun Sentinel investigative story "Plundering America - the Cuban Criminal Pipeline"

Plundering America - the Cuban Criminal Pipeline
http://interactive.sun-sentinel.com/plundering-america/

[Judi Lynn]

3. Funny seeing the right-wing "exile" spokespeople working to remove the Cuban Adjustment Act now.

They used to love it. They loved playing games with threatening to take away privileges various Cuban immigrants got when they got here, if they caught them taking trips to Cuba.

Maybe they realize if relations do become warmer towards Cuba, that tool they have used to lure Cubans away from Cuba to receive so many special benefits here, like instant legal protections, citizenship within a short time, instant access to social security, food stamps, US-taxpayer financed housing, medical treatment, financial aid for education, even low rate loans for business, etc.

They used the Adjustment Act to bring Cubans to the US, greatly softened the financial blow they would experience here, and protect them from extradition, and harassment by IMS, used the Cuban flight to the US as a political trophy. Every immigrant was a pawn.

They know the Act is going to go. Maybe they are distancing from it now to save face.

The Cuban Adjustment Act was WILDLY unfair to immigrants from other countries. What a shame the others have been treated so poorly, so shabbily, so cruelly. Imagine how many Mexicans, Central Americans, South Americans, Caribbean Islanders would be here now if they were allowed ANY of the lures they have held out to Cubans.