Ambiguous (Cuba) policy has clearly bad results

[Mika]

Ambiguous policy has clearly bad results

Now that lawyers for two deceased Cuban migrants may sue the U.S. Coast Guard in federal court, it is worth looking at migration across the Florida straits from the Coast Guard's point of view.

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The Coast Guard's primary mission is to save lives, and that is what the crew of the cutter Metompkin did on the night of Nov. 5, when the pilot of the 25-foot boat carrying 37 passengers called for assistance. The boat was taking on water in rough seas 65 miles south of Key West. The Metompkin came alongside and its crew rescued 15 passengers when the boat capsized; 22 others were thrown into the water, and all but two were rescued.
The Coast Guard deserves praise for averting a far greater tragedy. If there is to be a lawsuit, one might think it would be directed at the boat pilot who overloaded his vessel.

This incident was dramatic but not unusual, and thanks in part to U.S. policy, it is likely to be repeated. Under the "wet foot-dry foot" policy, Cubans intercepted at sea are returned to Cuba unless they qualify as a refugee by showing they would face persecution if returned home. Those who reach shore are generally released into the community within days , a practice that is permitted but not required by the Cuban Adjustment Act.

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But rather than seek a visa, many Cubans come by smuggler's speedboat. The smuggling, the attempts at undocumented immigration and the frequent defiance of lawful Coast Guard orders are all illegal practices -- but U.S. policy provides every incentive for them to continue because the migrants' legal troubles disappear once they reach shore.

Instead of suing the smugglers, the Miami relatives are suing the USCG. :mad:

More at.. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-37forum28nov25,0,3654058.story?coll=sfla-news-opinion