オバマ大統領、キューバ移民の優遇を廃止 「過去の政策」と方針転換

アメリカのオバマ大統領がキューバ移民への優遇政策を廃止すると発表しました。
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A U.S. Border Patrol agent photographs a boat with a makeshift sail that a group of Cuban migrants used to make landfall on Miami Beach on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015. (C.M. Guerrero/El Nuevo Herald/TNS via Getty Images)
El Nuevo Herald via Getty Images

オバマ大統領がキューバからの移民を優遇する政策を廃止すると発表したと、ハフィントンポストUS版時事通信などが1月13日までに報じた。オバマ大統領は声明で「この政策は過去の時代背景の元に行われたものだ」と述べ、退任を間近に控えてキューバ移民政策の転換に踏み切った。

時事通信などによると、キューバを逃れた移民は、アメリカに向かう途中に海上で拘束された場合は自国に送還されるが、「ぬれた足、乾いた足」と呼ばれる優遇政策に基づき、アメリカ領土に上陸すれば直ちに滞在が認められ、1年以上経てば永住権も取得することができた。

ハフィントポストUS版などは、オバマ大統領が声明で「今後はキューバ人を他の国からの移民と同じように扱う。アメリカの移民政策の一貫性を高める」と話したと伝えている。キューバ政府はこれまで、優遇政策があるため、キューバ人が命がけでフロリダ海峡を渡ってアメリカに不法入国しようとすると反発していた。こうした経緯も踏まえてオバマ大統領は「キューバ政府も退去を命じられたキューバ国民を受け入れることで合意している」と話している。

AFP通信によると、アメリカは、キューバからの医療関係者を受け入れるプログラムも同様に廃止する。キューバ政府は、オバマ大統領のこうした決定について「2国間関係をさらに前進させる重要な一歩だ」と歓迎した。

■関連画像集「リトル・ハバナで歓喜にわくキューバ移民」

リトル・ハバナで歓喜にわくキューバ移民
(01 of18)
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Cuban-Americans celebrate upon hearing about the death of longtime Cuban leader Fidel Castro in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami, Florida, on Nov. 26. (credit:John Parra via Getty Images)
(02 of18)
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Fidel Castro died on Nov. 25 aged 90, after defying the U.S. during a half-century of ironclad rule and surviving the eclipse of global communism. Many exiled Cubans celebrated on the streets of Miami. (credit:John Parra via Getty Images)
(03 of18)
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Many Cuban-Americans banged pots and pans with glee over news of Castro\'s death. (credit:AFP via Getty Images)
(04 of18)
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Some people celebrating Castro\'s death in Miami\'s streets held aloft skeletons depicting the former president, as they shouted “Freedom!” (credit:John Parra via Getty Images)
(05 of18)
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President-Elect Donald Trump was among the figures depicted during the celebrations in Miami. (credit:John Parra via Getty Images)
(06 of18)
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Many exiled Cubans gathered in front of Little Havana’s landmark Versailles Restaurant in Miami after news of Castro\'s death broke. (credit:John Parra via Getty Images)
(07 of18)
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Thousands of Cuban exiles, who have settled in Miami since the 1950s, filled the streets with boisterous celebration. (credit:John Parra via Getty Images)
(08 of18)
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Many Cuban-Americans held aloft the two countries\' flags, as they sang and danced in Miami\'s streets. (credit:AFP via Getty Images)
(09 of18)
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Many in the crowd banged drums, as they took to Miami\'s streets. Some even popped champagne. (credit:John Parra via Getty Images)
(10 of18)
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Drivers honked in celebration as some passengers waved Cuban flags to celebrate Castro\'s death. (credit:AFP via Getty Images)
(11 of18)
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Many Cuban-Americans toasted news of Castro\'s death well into the early hours in Miami. (credit:AFP via Getty Images)
(12 of18)
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It was an emotionally charged night for many in Miami. (credit:John Parra via Getty Images)
(13 of18)
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Many people took selfies as mementos of the occasion. (credit:John Parra via Getty Images)
(14 of18)
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Cars line the street as Cuban-Americans celebrate upon hearing about the death of Castro. (credit:RHONA WISE via Getty Images)
(15 of18)
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Some people say they were celebrating the end of an ideology in Cuba when they took to Miami\'s streets. Others held signs, saying “the rat has died” and “rot in hell,” which certainly seemed pointed at Castro. (credit:John Parra via Getty Images)
(16 of18)
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Cuban Americans celebrate upon hearing about the death of longtime Cuban leader Fidel Castro in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami, Florida on November 26, 2016. \nCuba\'s socialist icon and father of his country\'s revolution Fidel Castro died on November 25 aged 90, after defying the US during a half-century of ironclad rule and surviving the eclipse of global communism. / AFP / RHONA WISE (Photo credit should read RHONA WISE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:AFP via Getty Images)
(17 of18)
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Many in the crowd clapped and sang over the death of Castro. (credit:John Parra via Getty Images)
(18 of18)
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Miami\'s streets were flooded with Cuban-Americans, waving the flags of Cuba after news of Castro\'s death broke. (credit:John Parra via Getty Images)