America's ‘Wet Foot, Dry Foot’ Policy Ends For Cubans

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Barack Obama, in one of his last moves before leaving office, has put an end to a longstanding immigration policy that allowed some Cubans to stay in the United States without visas.

The so-called wet foot/dry foot policy had been in place for more than 20 years. It allowed Cubans who managed to step foot on American soil to stay in the country without visas. Those who were intercepted at sea were returned to Cuba.

The policy was designed “for a different era,” Obama said in a statement Thursday announcing the end of the practice. “Effective immediately, Cuban nationals who attempt to enter the United States illegally and do not qualify for humanitarian relief will be subject to removal, consistent with U.S. law and enforcement priorities.”

Obama said the move is meant to ensure that Cuban migrants are treated in the same manner that those from other countries are. The Cuban government, he added, has agreed to accept the return of Cuban nationals who are removed from the United States.

U.S. Coast Guard Vice Adm. Karl L. Schultz, who oversees the agency's Atlantic division, responded to the change in policy on Friday.

“Our role in the enforcement of U.S. immigration laws remains unchanged in light of Thursday’s announcement,” Schultz said. “The Coast Guard’s highly trained crews aboard cutters, aircraft and small boats remains ready (to) continue to work with our DHS (Department of Homeland Security) partners to stop any attempts at illegal immigration to the United States.”

Schultz also issued a plea to the Cuban community in America to urge their friends and relatives to reconsider plans to come to America illegally.

“Every effort will be made by the Coast Guard to stop illegal voyages before they potentially end in tragedy,” Schultz said. “I urge Cuban-American communities to discourage the people of Cuba from putting their lives at risk in dangerous and illegal at-sea crossings.”

The change in immigration policy comes as relations between the United States and Cuba have been warming under Obama’s administration. Within the past few months, the first commercial airline routes between the two countries in decades have been reopened. Cruise lines are also now making Cuban cities ports of call for American travelers.

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Photo courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard