Obama administration ends special immigration policy for cubans

A significant policy change!

On June 16, 2017, the Obama administration announced that it would end the "Wet Foot/Dry Foot" policy, a special immigration policy that had been in place since the 1990s, allowing Cubans who reached U.S. soil to remain in the country and apply for residency, while those intercepted at sea were returned to Cuba.

The policy, which was introduced during the Clinton administration, was designed to encourage Cubans to flee the communist island and seek a better life in the United States. Under the policy, Cubans who reached U.S. soil were allowed to apply for residency and eventually citizenship, while those who were intercepted at sea were returned to Cuba.

However, the policy had become increasingly controversial over the years, with critics arguing that it created an unfair advantage for Cubans compared to other immigrants seeking to enter the United States. The policy also led to a surge in Cuban migration to the United States, which put a strain on the country's immigration system and resources.

The Obama administration's decision to end the policy was seen as a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy towards Cuba. The move was widely seen as a response to the normalization of relations between the United States and Cuba, which had been re-established in 2014 after more than 50 years of hostility.

Under the new policy, Cubans who attempt to reach the United States by sea will be treated the same as migrants from other countries, and will be subject to the same immigration laws and procedures. This means that they will be processed at U.S. ports of entry, and will be subject to the same background checks and security screenings as other immigrants.

The change in policy was seen as a significant step towards greater consistency and fairness in U.S. immigration policy, and was welcomed by many immigration advocates and experts. However, it was also criticized by some Cuban-American groups and politicians, who argued that the policy change would harm Cuban-American communities and undermine the special relationship between the United States and Cuba.