President Barack Obama has ended the longstanding “wet foot, dry foot” policy that allowed Cuban immigrants who reached U.S. soil to stay in America.
Obama’s decision to end the policy is effective immediately.
The Obama administration made the announcement following a meeting with Cuban officials on Thursday. Over 100,000 Cubans were allowed to stay in America under the 20-year-old policy.
Now if Cuban refugees travel to America by boat or by air, they need a visa to stay in the country.
USA Today — Ending the policy means Cubans will no longer receive the preferential treatment they have enjoyed for more than two decades. Migrants from all other countries who don’t have a visa but are determined to enter the U.S. must sneak into the country and live their lives in fear of deportations.
The decision comes as Obama makes good on his promise to normalize relations with Cuba. Critics of Obama’s policies say he has begun acting presidential now that his 2nd term in office is coming to a close.
