Adios: Obama Getting Rid of ‘Wet Foot, Dry Foot’ Policy for Cubans

In his final week at the White House, President Obama has decided make another change in foreign policy, officially ending the “wet foot, dry foot” policy which granted legal residency to Cubans who arrived in the United States without visas.

The policy change is effective immediately, according to an Obama administration official.

The policy decision has been discussed by U.S. and Cuban officials for several months, and will now allow for Cubans with a deportation order in the U.S. to be returned to Cuba. For decades, Cuba refused to accept  something they have refused to allow Cubans who were turned away from the U.S. to return to Cuba.

“Obama scrapping ‘wet foot, dry foot’ policy for Cubans”

WSVN, January 12, 2017

The Obama administration is ending the “wet foot, dry foot” policy that granted residency to Cubans who arrived in the United States without visas.

That’s according to a senior administration official, who said the policy change was effective immediately.

The official said the U.S. and Cuba have spent several months negotiating the change, including an agreement from Cuba to allow those turned away from the U.S. to return.

The move comes about a week before President Barack Obama leaves office and is likely the last major change he will make to his overhaul of the U.S. relationship with Cuba.

The official insisted on anonymity in order to detail the policy ahead of an official announcement.