- Joined
- Dec 20, 2012
- Messages
- 7,302
- Reaction score
- 3,402
- Location
- Northern Virginia
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Centrist
During the 1960's and 70's we had a large migration of Cubans fleeing Castro's vicious regime to America. Cuba was listed as a militarily oppressive state and therefore their citizens were entitled to amnesty status. Those who came to America came through legitimate channels. Our church in West Texas took one of those families to sponsor--the father had been Castro's political prisoner which was a horrendous experience for him. Democrats and Republicans were okay with this.
By the 1990's Cubans were still fleeing the Castro regime in numbers large enough to be alarming at that time--which is laughable these days. President Clinton established a "wet dry" policy--those who made it to land were allowed amnesty. Those intercepted at sea were turned back for humanitarian reasons as the sea voyage was hazardous and the USA did not want to encourage more and more to risk the hazardous journey. Republicans did not object.
President Obama ended amnesty status for Cubans who didn't already live here and Republicans did not object.
There are currently roughly 1.3 million Cubans living in the USA, all legally.
Yes, but they would not be legal if the same standards for refugees and amnesty were applied to them as to refugees from any other country. Wet foot dry foot would be opposed by Republicans for refugees from any other dictatorship besides Cuba.