FAIR Congratulates President Obama for Ending the “Wet Foot-Dry Foot” Policy
(January 13, 2016 — Washington, D.C.) — The following statement was issued by Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) regarding his decision to terminate the so-called “Wet Foot- Dry Foot” policy for Cuban migrants.
FAIR congratulates President Obama for ending the unfair and illogical Wet Foot- Dry Foot policy that afforded illegal Cuban migrants special treatment. The Wet Foot-Dry Foot policy, along with the Cuban Adjustment Act which must be repealed by Congress, are outdated relics of the Cold War that have failed to deliver democracy to Cuba, while creating a magnet for often perilous illegal immigration to the United States.
The Wet Foot-Dry Foot policy was predicated on two flawed assumptions. First, that all Cuban migrants are presumptively fleeing political persecution. Cuba remains a repressive dictatorship, but the majority of people fleeing that country are doing so for economic reasons, much the same as illegal immigrants from other nations.
Second, the ability to benefit from the program could be the difference between standing in ankle-deep water off a Florida beach versus standing in ankle-deep sand on the beach. The determination of one’s right to stay in the United States should never depend on such irrelevant circumstances.
Over the course of the past eight years, FAIR has often disagreed with President Obama on immigration and has been a frequent critic of his policies. In his final week in office we are pleased to be able to say for once that he has acted wisely in terminating the Wet Foot- Dry Foot policy.