Over 1000 Cuban immigrants who have trekked over as many as ten different countries for months to reach the US have been left marooned in Mexico. This follows the shock decision by President Barack Obama to end the special immigration privileges, which have been given to Cubans for decades.
The decision to end the long-standing policy has shocked Cubans, although in the last year tens of thousands have fled the island nation to make use of it, often out of fear that such a decision could be on the cards after diplomatic relations between the two nations were restored, in 2014. Now, the many Cubans left stranded in Mexico hope that new President, Donald Trump, will reinstall the policy.
Trump has made clear his intention to reverse some of his predecessor’s decisions and to be tougher on the Cuban government. But, he campaigned on a policy of stricter immigration laws, which may cause reluctance to overturn this particular move by the former President. Many Cuban immigrants, now in limbo, arrived on the Texas border on 12 January, the same day that the “wet foot, dry foot” rule was eliminated by the Obama administration.
Cuban teacher, Yamila Gonzalez Cabeza, points out the irony that many were flocking to get into the US before Trump’s inauguration on 20 January and were not expecting Obama’s decision, with the new President their only hope for a policy change.