Congresswoman Mucarsel-Powell Pushes To Speed Up Process For Cubans

MIAMI (CBSMiami) - South Florida Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell held a news conference in Miami with Congresswoman Donna Shalala on Friday to talk about a bill she has introduced that seeks to reinstate the Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program.

The bill requires the Trump administration to resume processing applications under existing law within a reasonable time frame.

Meaning, the State Department would have to start processing applications by Cubans within 30 days and complete existing applications within 60 days.

The freshman Democrat says it's about bringing families together.

"In the end this is about wanting to find a way to bring families back together, where they belong and everyone who has shared their stories here today should never be in a position where they follow the rules. They do everything right and they're just turned away in the very last moment."

A spokesperson from the Mucarsel Powell's office says, "Beneficiaries still need to wait for their visa to be "current" under normal visa processing. However, parole would allow 'Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program' applicants to live and work in the US until a visa is available.

The bill has the support of South Florida Congresswomen Donna Shalala and Debbie Wasserman Schultz.