Are you concerned about the changes in Cuban immigration policy?
The recent shifts in U.S. policy have triggered a surge in Cuban migrants, sparking uncertainty and urgency.
Imagine securing your future and ensuring your legal status amidst these changes. This isn’t just a possibility; it’s a reality you need to prepare for.
We’re breaking down what the changes to the Cuban Adjustment Act mean for you and how to navigate this complex landscape.
Worried about your next steps? Read on to find out more.
As a Miami immigration attorney, the announcement by President Barack Obama on December 17th, 2014 ordering the restoration of normal diplomatic relations has held significant interest for me. In light of its geographic proximity to the island, Miami’s Cuban community has grown to become the largest in the continental United States.
The privilege that Cuban refugees enjoy is by dint of the Cuban Adjustment Act. The Cuban Adjustment Act is a United States federal law that was enacted in 1966 by President Lyndon Johnson. One of the components of the Cuban Adjustment Act is what is colloquially known as the “wet foot/dry foot” policy, which establishes that Cubans who arrive in the United States may remain here by arguing that they are suffering political persecution in their homeland. However, Cuban refugees who are intercepted at sea, even just a few feet off the U.S. coast, are returned to Cuba.
President Obama’s recent announcement has stoked fears among many Cubans that this generous immigration policy will be modified. This has spurred many Cubans who had been contemplating departure to hasten their plans and leave the United States as soon as possible before any modification in the law. Many Miami immigration lawyers, myself included, have seen an uptick in questions from Cuban nationals as to their immigration status.
According to the United States Coast Guard, the number of Cuban migrants attempting to reach the U.S. illegally in rafts has surged since the December 17 announcement that diplomatic relations between the two countries would be restored after more than 50 years.
On the homefront, Republican Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida said that she believes the Cuban Adjustment Act will be modified. Such a change would require the passage of new legislation, which never comes easily.
The Cuban Adjustment Act has provided Cubans with a virtually guaranteed path to legal residency, and eventual citizenship now hangs in the balance. The journey that hundreds of thousands of Cubans have taken to reach American soil was previously made with the knowledge that they would not be deported.
If you would like more information on the Cuban Adjustment Act and how any potential changes could affect your immigration status, please contact Miami immigration attorney The Law Office of Tatiane M. Silva, P.A., Esq. at (305)895-2500
or visit our website at www. mmurraylaw.com