Dream Act: Obama Political Payback on Trump Backfires

Did Obama screw up and do Trump a favor?

Obama cuba castro limp wristA recent act of ‘political payback’ has exposed Obama’s own hypocrisy. Not surprising this latest move has gone unheralded in the national media.

President Obama has reversed 60 years of American foreign policy with the immediate ending of the ‘Wet Foot/Dry Foot’ policy.

The Miami Herald reports:

The change, which took effect immediately, brought to a halt the practice that gave Cubans who arrive at U.S. borders without visas automatic entry into the United States — even if they had been smuggled in by human traffickers. Cubans picked up at sea generally have been sent back unless they could establish a “well-founded fear” of political persecution if returned.

 “Cuban nationals who attempt to enter the United States illegally and do not qualify for humanitarian relief will be subject to removal, consistent with U.S. law and enforcement priorities,” President Barack Obama said in a statement.

 In recent years, record numbers of Cuban migrants have taken advantage of the special U.S. policy, known as “wet foot, dry foot,” which allows Cubans who reach U.S. territory to stay and ask for political asylum. In conjunction with the Cuban Adjustment Act, the policy has permitted those reaching U.S. territory to get permanent residency and green cards after they’ve been in the United States for a year and a day.

 “Wet foot, dry foot has come to be understood as any Cuban who makes it to U.S. territory would be lawfully admitted,” said Robert Muse, a Washington immigration attorney. “Now this change puts Cubans into the same category as every other citizen of every other country on earth.”

Not even the death of longtime tyrant Fidel Castro has brought needed relief to the Cuban people. Even now thousands of refugees are paying tens-of-thousands of dollars to fund their flight from the repressive communist Cuban government.

The reversal on policy is as heinous as when Obama condemned thousands of Syrians to death when he failed to enforce his ‘red line.’

Obama Cuba: Cubans Becoming Mexicans

The question begs, “Why is the Obama Administration taking such a tough stance on Cuban immigration while endorsing amnesty for illegal immigrants from other places in Latin America?” Moreover Obama (and other Leftists) continue to advocate for sanctuary cities in contradiction to federal laws. Perhaps the LA Times has the answer:

Cuban Americans have long voted Republican, though newer generations have tended to shift toward Democrats. Some polls suggest that Trump is faring well in the group, possibly because President Obama relaxed relations with Cuba, a move opposed by hard-liners in the exile community but more popular among newer arrivals. 

Trump’s comments about Mexican immigration may not carry quite the same sting for many Cuban Americans, who have long had special immigration status that gives them an easy path to citizenship if they successfully reach the U.S. 

In fact, Pew Research concurred that Democrats were gaining on Republicans within the Cuban communities:

Less than half (47%) of Cuban registered voters nationwide now say they identify with or lean toward the Republican Party—down from the 64% who said the same about the GOP a decade ago, according to 2013 survey data. Meanwhile, the share of Cubans who identify with or lean toward the Democratic Party has doubled from 22% to 44% over the same time period, according to the survey of Hispanics.

The shift is partly explained by the coming of age of U.S.-born Cubans, who have somewhat different political affiliations than their elders. Today, 44% of Cubans in the U.S. are native-born. Some 48% of

Looking at all Cubans, including those not registered to vote, only a third (33%) say they identify with or lean toward the Republican Party, according to the 2013 survey of Hispanics. On the other side of the aisle, some 48% of Cubans today say they identify with or lean toward the Democratic Party.

The impact of younger Cubans is reflected in those figures. Over half (56%) of Cubans ages 18 to 49 identified with or leaned toward the Democratic Party compared with 39% of those 50 years and older. 

Among Latinos, those of Cuban origin have had some of the highest voter turnout rates. In 2012, 67% of Cuban Americans voted nationally, compared with 48% of Latinos overall.

Believe it or not, the largest number Hispanic-Republican legislators in Congress are of Cuban descent.

Senators Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, former-Senator Mel Martinez, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, brothers Congressmen Mario Díaz-Balart and Lincoln Díaz-Balart, and current Florida Lieutenant-Governor Carlos López-Cantera.  Except for Senator Cruz, all of whom reside and represent Florida in Congress or Tallahassee.

The reversal of this policy, much like Elián González did in 2000, has likely crippled Democratic inroads into the Cuban-American community. Furthermore, the move may has cost them Florida in future presidential elections.

Yet again Obama appears to have unknowingly hurt the Democrats, ironically in their pursuit of the almighty vote.

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