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no comment on the wet foot/dry foot as it is not politically necessary at the time. The CA vote is in the bag. Should that change then he will dangle the wf/df policy carrot.
I wonder when our CA rep. was puckering up for the President if she was wispering sweet nothings in his ear. She should have been whispering "keep your promise!"

As much as I disagree with the policy I can see that it provides some degree of stability to the migration "problem." People in Cuba know that they won't automatically get asylum and so there is a deterrent. But then again the policy has created a cottage industry in people smuggling which is quite profitable for fidel and his cronies. Without the policy however we'd have a line of rafts from here to Havana that you could walk across.

Conductor, Potato-

And therein lies the problem. It's not so much about our response, or our "paying attention" to Cuba or Latin America entire. The problem is that other countries, in particular Castro's Cuba cause intractable problems that don't have a quick and easy policy response that merits good outcomes. The safety of people in this country should trump providing automatic entry into the country to anyone who comes here under WF/DF. Yes, they are coming from Cuba, yes these people are repressed, and yes we should be pursing every means curtail Castro's influence- but how do we know just WHO is stepping off the life raft? Is it not beyond the realm of impossibility that if Castro knew we were picking up refugees @ sea, he would flood the waters with prisoners, mentally ill, and spies? Just something to consider before you dismiss WF/DF out of hand.

Luche Libre -If fidel wants to send spies he'll make sure they get here. If you're suggesting that the risk of balseros being dangerous criminals outweighs the humanitarian issue you need to rethink your priorities and your sources.

Somehow, I don't think revoking WF/DF would result in a "bridge" of rafts from there to here. People aren't permitted to own watercraft, right? They still have that challenge. And even if they had boats, castro & his minions don't allow anyone to simply put out to sea. But I still think WF/DF should be gotten rid of.

I think any balsero who makes it past the invisible dotted line in the water that marks US territory should be detained and permitted to apply for refugee status. At that point, he or she can still be deported if it turns out the person's a criminal or whatever, but at least honest folks would have a better chance to reach freedom. So yeah, that whole "but then anyone could just drift over on a raft" argument doesn't fly.

Ziva-

The "humanitarian" issue exists on both sides of the straits, lest we forget. We wish there was an easy solution to this problem, but there isn't. The United States doesn't control who comes out of Cuba. The first priority of our government should be, as cold as it sounds, the security of the people who currently reside in this country. If we were to end WF/DF, we certainly have to think about what Castro's response would be- we know he would find some way turn our good intentions against us again. And please don't imply that I have bad intentions towards Cuban refugees.

My father in-law came to this country via Operation Peter Pan, and I have a cousin who recently defected from Cuba through a country that shall remain nameless. Do you really think that Castro would not try to make us pay dearly for changing our current policy? I think it is also unrealistic for you to believe that 100% of any refugee population, be they Cuban, Mexican, whatever- is free of criminal elements. All I am arguing is that that percentage would probably increase if Castro knew we changed our policy. If you have an alternative to WF/DF, state your policy, why its outcomes would be better, and how it would enhance our country's security. Id be curious to hear it.

Lucha Libre, I'd like to hear why you think allowing more Cuban refugees asylum is a human rights issue for Americans. I live in LA where we have millions, millions of illegal Mexicans and we manage and most of them will probably wind up with some sort of amnesty. Cubans have proven themselves to be great Americans so I don't get where you're coming from. I realize a large number of refugees is messy, I say deal with it, as far as I'm concerned we owe Cubans that much at least. And BTW they don't all have to stay in Miami.

Ziva-

With all due respect, Southern California, and the Southwest are not "managing" the Mexican exodus nearly as well as you imply. Anywhere from 15-25% of the California prison population are illegal immigrants from Mexico. Do have anything to say to the human rights of Americans whom have been victimized by illegal immigrants from Mexico? The stories are legion- involving murder, kidnapping, drug trade, hospital and social services strained beyong the breaking point- its all enabled by having an "open border" with Mexico. Illegal immigration has serious ramifications for our country. Additionally, illegals are cheating people, especially from other Latin American countries, who followed the rules and came here legally. Ultimately, it is our own elected leaders' fault for not enforcing our border laws. The American have people have never voted for such porous borders.

That said, our immigration issue with Cuba is much different than illegal immigration from Mexico. We are dealing with a dictator who is looking to counter every policy or intervention we make vis-a-vis his country. Current law allows for Cubans to legally apply for 20,000 visas per year. I don't think it is in our country's interests to encourage Cubans to A. Illegally immigrate here and B. Take a risk which has a high chance of injury or death.

Personally, id be in favor of rescinding WF/DF altogether- meaning, regardless of whether you made it to land or you were picked up at sea, I would send all refugees home. Reason? Because it would take away one more cottage industry of Castro's- taking bribes from people who transit Cubans to the U.S..

this goverment should get rid of the wet/dry foot stupidity,on the other hand,castro is gonna use that as a pretext to "open cuba's borders" for millions to flee to usa,but..he will only do that with a democrat goverment,never with a republican one,if not,check history,all the "exodus" that we had in the past have been under democrat goverments,castro knows when and how to play his cards,and if that happens with a democrat of course,at least they will have no other option that accept the "raftmasses" coming and at the end of at all,we cubans on this side are gonna help to rebuild what left of cuba..the more we are here,the better for cuba in the future...

CNN says
Cuban President Fidel Castro is transferring power provisionally to brother Raul while he undergoes an operation, Cuban TV announces.

!!!

Lucha, I didn't say the illegals weren't causing any problems,nor did I say they are desirable, I said we are managing, and we are. Any debate about illegal immigration as applied to LA is a joke as far as I'm concerned, 15-20 years late at best. We are, like it or not, Mexico City north and I am well aware of the problems, I live with them every damn day, so I don't need a lecture from you. The wet foot dry foot is inhumane and should be thrown out entirely. My point was if we can deal with 25 million or so mostly uneducated Mexicans we can "manage" increased numbers of refugees from Cuba, in fact, the US has the resources to accept every damn Cuban from the island if necessary.

Ziva-

Im not trying to lecture, but I am trying to put forth facts rather than conjecture. You have made my point for me- LA is Mexico City North. And it is a joke. And ultimately, it's not to my benefit or yours. We are not encouraging Mexico to reform its corrupt political system and its economy. Their corruption for decades has taken advantage of the United States as a safety valve- rather than promoting freer markets and a viable economy for Mexicans, they are content to export their underclass here as a substitute for a real economic policy. Yes, I know, 11 million illegals are not all criminals, they mean no harm, so the argument goes. But they all did break our immigration laws, and they gamed the system, while our leaders slept, and cheated many others who wanted to come here legally. And now we will slowly see how this tidal wave of people affect the fabric of our country.

Last week, it was reported that A quarter of all immigrant Latinas are mothers by the age of 20, few of them married. Their out-of-wedlock teen-birth rate is three times that of white teens, and significantly more than that of blacks as well. The Hispanic dropout rate is also the highest in the country — the Manhattan Institute’s Jay Greene puts it at 47 percent. And you don't think this wave of immigrants will effect our country in many unforseen ways? How will the breakdown of the Latina family impact crime rates, dropout rates, welfare rolls, social services?

Look, we have a difference of opinion here. You are an open borders proponent. I am for shutting them down and requiring people to come here legally, so we can control who comes in here, for our people's security and well being. Every country has a right to control its borders. Except of course, the United States. Our immigration law is so incoherent and unenforced that someday it can prove to be our achillies heel.

Your argument that liberalizing WF/DF policy is somehow more "humane" is off the mark. This Clinton-era policy was ultimately misguided and did more harm than good to many people- and when you think about, if the law had never been changed, perhaps someone like Elian Gonzalez would have been just another young boy in Cuba, rather than the tool for Communist propaganda that he so sadly became.

Lucha, you are wrong, I'm not a proponent of open borders quite the opposite. I'm just dealing with reality. My neighbors, some friends, some family, some co-workers, and in the past, my employers came from Mexico illegally. But they are here and I live with them nearby, they are individuals to me and it's a done deal. That is the fact here in LA. I am all for enforcement of sane immigration laws and holding the Mexican government accountable. Cubans are not illegal immigrants,they are refugees. The law should be thrown out period and Cuban refugees should be aided; that would be the right thing to do. Period.

Ziva-

We can and do aid refugees, as well we should. They are rescued, clothed, fed, and given medical attention, that is the humanitarian response. But to naturalize them and grant them citizenship into the United States is an open borders position, and that is your position. Our border laws should apply to Cubans, as well as everyone else, at least in theory. At least admit that you are open borders proponent. You can't say in one breath that you're not for open borders, yet in the next you say we should take in all illegal immigrants or refugees automatically just because we've let in millions of Mexicans.

Sorry Lucha, sending fleeing refugees back to castro is not aiding them. And I'm not for open borders. We can agree to disagree, but don't try to put words in my mouth. You're equating Cuban refugees with illegal immigrants and other refugees I don't and won't.

Lucha, on this evening no more debate, viva Cuba Libre!

Ziva-

While we can certainly agree that Cuban refugees are leaving for much differnt reasons than Mexican illegal immigrants, the same laws should apply to everyone trying to get into the country-do so thru LEGAL means. So yes, we disagree, but ultimately in the final analysis, the United States is not responsible for Castro's draconian dictatorship. Our WF/DF has only encouraged people to leave Cuba illegally, and in retrospect it was badly mistaken. It probably caused the whole Elian debacle. We only can control our own borders; and the security of this country and its citizens trumps making instant citizens of refugees, which is what you would do. There is a legal mechanism for Cuban nationals to come here- 20,000 annually can get visas. We should not be encouraging Cubans to leave the island in rafts- notice how Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen is telling folks not to take boats to Cuba in the midst of the euphoria now unfolding.

Immigration laws really do mean something, and they should be enforced comprehensively and unapologetically.

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