9/9/1994

“‘Normalizing’ migration between the two nations [U.S. and Cuba] was the stated purpose of the migration agreement enacted by the Clinton Administration on September 9, 1994, when the status quo of U.S. policy toward Cuban migrants was altered significantly. The plan’s objectives of safe, legal, and orderly immigration relied on six points.[1] The United States agreed to no longer permit Cubans intercepted at sea to come to the United States; rather, Cubans would be placed in a safe haven camp in a third location… [2] United States and Cuba reaffirmed their support for the United Nations General Assembly resolution on alien smuggling. They pledged to cooperate in the prevention of the illegal transport of migrants and the use of violence or ‘forcible divergence’ to reach the United States. [3]The United States agreed to admit no fewer than 20,000 immigrants from Cuba annually, not including the immediate relatives of U.S. citizens. [4]The United States and Cuba agreed to cooperate on the voluntary return of Cubans who arrived in the United States or were intercepted at sea. [5] The United States and Cuba did not reach an agreement on how to handle Cubans who are excluded by the INA[Immigration and Nationality Act], but they did agree to continue discussing the matter. (Grounds for removal include health-related grounds; criminal grounds; national security grounds; Nazi prosecution grounds; public charge grounds; illegal entry and immigration law violations; and lack of proper immigration documents.) [6] The United States and Cuba agreed to review the implementation of this agreement and engage in further discussions.” [Con Embargo]

Ruth Ellen Wasem, “Cuban Migration to the United States: Policy and Trends,” Congressional Research Service at the Federation of American Scientists, FAS.org, June 2, 2009