Cuban-American lawmakers on Thursday criticized the Obama administration’s announcement that it will discontinue the wet-foot-dry-foot policy with Cuba that has allowed Cubans to stay in the U.S. if they reach the U.S. without a visa.
The wet-foot-dry-foot policy was implemented in 1995 as a revision to the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966, granting Cubans the ability to apply for asylum after a year if they made it to dry land. Those who were apprehended by U.S. border agents in the water (wet foot), would be turned back to Cuba.
Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., blasted the Democratic administration, called Obama’s decision to end that policy an “ill-conceived” reform that will leave everyday Cubans “less hopeful” about their futures.
“To be sure, today’s announcement will only serve to tighten the noose the Castro regime continues to have around the neck of its own people,” Menendez said in a statement. “Congress was not consulted prior to this abrupt policy announcement with just nine days left in this administration. The Obama administration seeks to pursue engagement with the Castro regime at the cost of ignoring the present state of torture and oppression, and its systematic curtailment of freedom.”
The majority of the House’s Cuban-American lawmakers issued statements decrying the decree shortly after it was issued. Democratic Rep. Albio Sires of New Jersey also broke with their party to bash Obama’s decision.
“[A]t a time when we are entering a new Administration led by someone who has repeatedly made hateful and disparaging remarks on refugees, minorities, and immigrants, I question the timing of enacting policies that hinder the ability of those who escaping persecution to find solace in our great nation,” Sires said in a statement.
Across the aisle, Republicans were just as unhappy as their liberal colleagues with the move. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida said Obama would be wrong to tout his Cuban policy reforms as an achievement.
“To the contrary, his policy has been a succession of betrayals of America’s longstanding commitment to human rights and freedom, and a betrayal of the Cuban people who have suffered under oppression for far too long,” Diaz-Balart wrote. “This last act of diminishing lifelines to Cubans languishing in totalitarianism is one final despicable betrayal of a people who deserve better from an American president.”
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida took the greatest umbrage about doing away with the Cuban medical doctor program.
“The repeal of the Cuban Medical Professional Parole Program was done because that’s what the Cuban dictatorship wanted and the White House caved to what Castro wants, instead of standing up for U.S. democratic values and seeking the return of fugitives from U.S. justice like Joanne Chesimard or seeking compensation for U.S. citizens for their confiscated properties,” Ros-Lehtinen wrote.
Rep. Carlos Curbelo of Florida said the “legitimizing” of Castro’s dictatorship two years ago has contributed to reasons 100,000 Cubans have attempted to flee to the U.S. in that time. The decision, a week before President-elect Trump is sworn into office, does not follow through on humanitarian rights concerns Curbelo says the administration is leaving unfixed as it departs the White House.
“For two years, I have demanded a solution to this crisis from the Administration. Instead, the Administration chose to wait until the last hour to act, and as usual collaborated directly with the Cuban dictatorship instead of consulting members of Congress,” Curbelo said in a statement. “America’s policy toward Cuba should serve to advance U.S. interests, and it should never be coordinated with anti-American dictators.” The lawmakers said the wet-foot-dry-foot policy has been a means for recipients to take advantage of. As Curbelo said, it was “grossly abused and exploited by many Cuban nationals, while also inadvertently bolstering the Cuban regime.” The general consensus was that the change to this policy was inevitable, but better reforms to help those being persecuted in Cuba must be made, Curbelo added.
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., issued a statement after speaking with Vice President-elect Mike Pence on the issue. Rubio said that while “some changes were needed,” the U.S. must have a chance at asylum if they are fleeing persecution.
“The Cuban Adjustment Act has provided countless Cubans the opportunity to escape the Castro tyranny. However, in recent years it has also led to growing abuses,” he said. “While some changes were needed, we must work to ensure that Cubans who arrive here to escape political persecution are not summarily returned to the regime, and they are given a fair opportunity to apply for and receive political asylum.”
He also said he’s worried about Obama’s move to end the Cuban Medical Professional Parole Program, which let Cuban doctors seek asylum.
“I am optimistic that the incoming Trump Administration will reverse this part of the executive order and allow these doctors to seek asylum at U.S. embassies or consulates in other countries,” Rubio said.
Sen. Ted Cruz’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
