Florida Senator Mel Martinez was on the Diane Rehm Show on Monday, and gave an interesting interview about his childhood in
“The fact of the matter is that a difficult policy was instituted about family travel because, as you may know, a lot of people were coming from Cuba under the Cuban Adjustment Act, which allows Cubans, the only people in the world right now, I think, that can come to the United States, illegally essentially, and then be adjusted as legals just by the mere fact that they touch shore, the wet foot dry foot policy which I don’t frankly agree with. But the Cuban Adjustment Act also says that the reason why that they can do that is because of fear of persecution. Well, those same people who were coming in recent days and recent years were returning to
Well, it certainly would make a sham of that “notion,” if indeed it existed in the law. But it doesn’t.
In fact, the Cuban Adjustment Act doesn’t even contain the word “persecution.”
By using the phrase “reasonable fear of being persecuted,” Senator Martinez implies that Cubans who come to
The idea that Cubans who travel to
Senator Martinez isn’t the first to use this bottom-of-the-barrel argument. Setting aside its total inaccuracy, it’s beyond me why he and others find it politically compelling. When the Administration’s 2004 family sanctions were announced, the argument was that the travel and remittance restrictions would cut
I guess that one wore out.
Or maybe it’s hard to look a Cuban American in the eye and say that even though Cuba’s economy is growing, and Chavez is delivering tons of oil to Havana, and other countries are providing aid and credits, it’s all on you, pal – we had to stop you from sending money to your aunt because we’re hastening the end of the dictatorship, and the money you send her will keep Castro in power.
11 comments:
sorry Peters ain't buying it. So the CAA had nothing to do with Cuba being a communist dictatorship that was causing people to flee? So it was just decided to pass the law because Cuba was just there and some congressman felt it would be a cool thing to do to pick out Cuba out of all the countries in the hemisphere to give this special privilege to? Maybe the point was so OBVIOUS in the mid-60s that NOBODY thought you had to S-P-E-L-L I-T O-U-T in the law. But then again maybe they underestimated how dense some future analysts were going to be about its application.
The point of that law, if you look it up, was to take care of the many thousands of Cubans who were here without status in the early 1960’s. By 1966 it was clear that the initial assumption – that Fidel would fall and all would return – was not going to work out. Under our laws at the time, the only way to adjust status was to leave the country and go to a U.S. consulate. So the act was a practical and humane solution to that problem. Again, you can look it up. My point was not about immigration policy, it was about a make-believe reading of that law to make an argument against family visits. If you prefer not to look it up and you feel better right where you are, be my guest.
ok, we'll toss you a crumb Peters. Martinez's mistake was mentioning the CAA and not the overall decades-old special immigration POLICY too -- for which the CAA serves as the foundation. we'll send him a note to update his talking points.
Let me visit my mom.... I am anti-castro, but don't fear persecution, like most of the Cubanos, I know here.
We didn't come here on wet foot dry foot, some came on marriage visas, some through university scholarships, others through family who got us here through other types of visas.
we have right to go visit our family in Cuba... Again, the clear majority of CAs here since teh 1990s (and probably 80s) don't fear cuba at all, even though we are anti-castro.
its silly USA acting like Cuba... Martinez just says that b/c he has NO family in cuba. easy for him and the facist babalu types.
Laws aren't "OBVIOUS" Anon, they have to spell out very clearly what their purpose is. Nor is Martinez making a mistake, he knows very well what CAA is and when it applies.
sorry amigo little late...Peters got the only crumb
why continuing asking for visit family in cuba.why you don't file i-130 and bringing overhere? in that way you rescue the whole family and they can enyoy this different life overhere? if you do that you will have all of them here happy , free and making a new life and best of all you will be showing your love for them.otherwise you show them only that you live better than them.
For almost 50 years we have tried isolation of Cuba with NO results! Isn't it time to change. The definition of insanity is repeating the same thing and expecting different results. But then again, ask Mr. McCain. Doesn't his wife's beer distributorship do business with Cuba? This is the "doble moral" of the republicans and their "secuaces"
yeah that's right morons the problem is the US not the castro regime
Phil, congratulations. You really nailed this one. I have never seen the policy so well explained.
Phil, you really are dishonest. Why isn't there a Mexican adjustment act? Why isn't there a Guatemalan adjustment act?
You know that the reason is because of a special circumstance call the Castro dictatorship.
While the Cuban Adjustment Act doesn't contain language about persecution, it exists because of persecution.
You know that old debate about the spirit vs. the letter of the law?
I guess not.
Whatever. Say hi to Sherritt for us.
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