Obama has just made a new deal with Cuba to end our long standing “wet foot, dry foot” policy for Cuban refugees:
BREAKING: Administration official: Obama ending policy granting residency to Cubans entering US without visas.
— The Associated Press (@AP) January 12, 2017
CNBC – The Obama administration is ending the “wet foot, dry foot” policy that granted residency to Cubans who arrived in the United States without visas.
That’s according to a senior administration official, who said the policy change was effective immediately.
The official said the U.S. and Cuba have spent several months negotiating the change, including an agreement from Cuba to allow those turned away from the U.S. to return.
The move comes about a week before President Barack Obama leaves office and is likely the last major change he will make to his overhaul of the U.S. relationship with Cuba.
The official insisted on anonymity in order to detail the policy ahead of an official announcement.
Obama appeases Iran and now he’s appeasing Cuba – he just loves appeasing our enemies! Good Grief!
I’m sure both Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio will have much to say about this move, and I’ll post it as soon as they do.
More on this as it develops…
UPDATE: Here’s more from the Miami Herald. Note the part I’ve bolded:
President Barack Obama is ending a longstanding immigration policy that allows any Cuban who makes it to U.S. soil to stay and become a legal resident, a senior administration official said Thursday.
The repeal of the “wet foot, dry foot” policy is effective immediately, according the official. The decision follows months of negotiations focused in part on getting Cuba to agree to take back people who had arrived in the U.S.
The U.S. and Cuba planned to issue a joint statement late Thursday. The official insisted on anonymity in order to detail the change ahead of the announcement.
The official said the Cubans gave no assurances about treatment of those sent back to the country, but said political asylum remains an option for those concerned about persecution if they return.
The changes would be the latest step by Obama to normalize relations with Cuba.
Also note this: “The decision follows months of negotiations focused in part on getting Cuba to agree to take back people who had arrived in the U.S.”
Why would we be sending people BACK to Cuba?
UPDATE: Here’s Obama’s statement affirming the policy change, saying it will now be ILLEGAL for Cubans to come here without a visa and they will subsequently be sent back to Cuba.
Via Zeke Miller:
Just horrible. As Elizabeth Harrington points out…
Suddenly Obama cares about enforcing immigration law! pic.twitter.com/V5aZC35sEW
— Elizabeth Harrington (@LizWFB) January 12, 2017
Of course.