Wet Foot Dry Foot Policy May Be On The Table During Cuba Talks
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The highest ranking official of the U.S. delegation to visit Cuba in decades sat directly across a table from Cuba's delegation in Havana on Wednesday.
One item on the agenda was the Cuban Adjustment Act, a U.S. law that allows the wet foot dry foot policy. Cuba would like to see that law repealed.
"The Cuban delegation has raised concerns about the Cuban Adjustment Act and the dry food-wet foot policy that is applied for Cuban immigrants that in our conception, in our opinion, is the main stimulus for illegal emigration," said Gustavo Machin with the Cuban Foreign Ministry.
The wet foot-dry foot policy may be on the table during the two day talks but ending the five decades old economic embargo would have to be changed by Congress. President Barack Obama called for the change during his State of the Union address on Tuesday evening.
"When what you're doing hasn't worked in 50 years, it's time to try something new," said President Obama.
Carlos Saladrigas of the Cuba study group once supported the embargo, but believes it has outlived its purpose.
"The embargo was supposed to force Cuba to change but instead of changing, it's an obstacle in Cuba changing," said Saladrigas.
The Havana talks will not end the embargo but are aimed at restoring diplomatic relations.
Critics said it'll benefit the Cuban government while others said negotiations will benefit both countries.
"We are establishing ties with a group that keeps silencing its opposition and the president gave no hope to that opposition," said U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Miami).
"Now we have an opportunity to air the issues we have with Cuba. This is what diplomacy is all about," said Saladrigas.
