Cuban migration among issues Trump and Clinton don’t talk much about

Cuban migration among issues Trump and Clinton don't talk much about
BY DEAN DECHIARO

WASHINGTON – Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have talked a lot about
immigration. They're miles apart. And, somewhere in between, is Congress.

The presidential candidates have primarily butted heads over
high-profile topics like border security, Syrian refugee resettlements,
deportation policies and a pathway to legal status for millions of
undocumented U.S. residents.

But back in Washington, members of Congress have a longer list of
immigration issues to tackle, which have received less attention on the
campaign trail. Among them is Cuban migration.

Since President Barack Obama began normalizing diplomatic relations with
Cuba in 2014, migration from the Caribbean island nation to the United
States has skyrocketed.

In fiscal 2013, just fewer than 18,000 undocumented Cubans arrived
stateside. But more than 41,000 came in 2015. And that number is likely
to be eclipsed by a significant margin this year.

The federal government's "wet foot, dry foot" policy allows any Cuban
who makes it to the United States safely to receive an immigration
parole, work authorization and, eventually, a green card.

It's a Cold War-era policy, and members of Congress from both parties
say a crucial part of normalizing relations with Cuba means treating
their immigrants the same as those from other countries.

Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar and Republican Rep. Blake Farenthold, both
of Texas, are pushing a bill (HR 4847) that would repeal the Cuban
Adjustment Act (the legislation establishing the "wet foot, dry foot"
policy) and make undocumented Cubans subject to the same restrictions as
other immigrants.

Republican Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona introduced a similar measure (HR
3818) last year, while Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican of Cuban
descent, is touting a bill (S 2441) that would end automatic refugee
status for migrants. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, another Florida Republican
with Cuban roots, introduced a companion measure (HR 4247) in the House.

Last September, Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, told The
Daily Caller that while he supported Obama's plan to normalize relations
with Cuba, "we should have made a better deal." His Democratic rival
Clinton has lately supported normalizing U.S.-Cuba relations, but has in
the past advocated maintaining the government's economic embargo on the
country.

Source: Cuban migration among issues that Trump and Clinton don't talk
much about | In Cuba Today -
http://www.incubatoday.com/news/article97621667.html