Obama ends "Wet foot, dry foot" policy - Possible effect on Cuban defectors?

[Tuba]

The "Wet foot, dry foot" policy allowed any Cuban who set foot on US soil to stay as a legal resident. Presumably this will have a big effect on Cuban baseball players? 

 

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBAMA_CUBA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2017-01-12-16-50-37

Edited January 12, 2017 by Tuba

[drjim]

Should be rendered moot by normalized relations, assuming that policy is continued.

[Mike Sixel]

There aren't may MLB players left right now, from what I read.

[Thrylos]

This has zero effect on Cuban baseball players because they are treated as international free agents by the MLB.

[Tuba]

If their ability to stay in the country now depends on a sports visa of some kind, then if they can't stick with a pro team, they may have to leave? I'm sure there is some effect somewhere...

[nicksaviking]

This has zero effect on Cuban baseball players because they are treated as international free agents by the MLB.

I agree, this shouldn't impact players. It's a good talker for the sports bar though, I'll relocate it there.

[nicksaviking]

If their ability to stay in the country now depends on a sports visa of some kind, then if they can't stick with a pro team, they may have to leave? I'm sure there is some effect somewhere...

I wouldn't think they'd have it any different than Japanese or Dominican players.

[Badsmerf]

Good decision, long overdue imo. I don't think people get to become citizens by just showing up. I'm more slanted toward open boarders, but we do have rules in place, and one country shouldn't be an exception.

[nicksaviking]

 

Good decision, long overdue imo. I don't think people get to become citizens by just showing up. I'm more slanted toward open boarders, but we do have rules in place, and one country shouldn't be an exception.

 

I don't mind asylum for people coming from persecuted areas, but Cuba today isn't quite Cuba from days past, at least not from my understanding.

 

Though I think many of the Latin American countries have vast areas of violence and insecurity. I'm OK letting people stay as opposed to sending them back to dangerous areas, especially the kids who will  then have a high probability to end up perpetuating the dangerous situations.