Proposed bill would remove Cubans' fast route to U.S. citizenship (video link below)

Representatives Blake Farenthold and Henry Cuellar introduced the Correcting Unfair Benefits for Aliens (CUBA) Act to the House this week, a bill that would hold Cubans to the same standards as other immigrants from countries where the U.S. has diplomatic relations. Cubans living in the Coastal Bend have mixed reactions to the bill. 

The proposed bill would remove Cubans' fast-track to U.S. citizenship. It comes as the two countries begin to re-establish ties, following President Obama's historic visit to Cuba. 

Nick Gignac, the son of a Cuban immigrant, thinks normalizing immigration is part of that process. 

"The goal is to become a stable part of the world economy and the world community. I think normalization of immigration is a step in the right direction," Gignac said.

He thinks policy might be better focused on the influx of refugees fleeing drug violence or other threats. 

"Cuba seems to be becoming more stable and normalizing relations," he said. "It may be more important to look at the immigrants coming from these Central American countries."

However, many think path to normalized relations is still a long one.

"The Obama administration has decided to normalize relations with Cuba, but Cuba is still an oppressive, communist regime," said Cuban immigrant Omar Rivero. 

Rivero fled Cuba at age five, and thinks a bill to eliminate a path to legal status makes little sense if little has changed in the country. 

"I still have family in Cuba," he said. "The citizens of Cuba are still under the thumb of the Castro brothers. Nothing's changed!"

The current policy has helped many Cubans legally move to the Coastal Bend, according to Justin Tullius, Managing Attorney at Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services. He believes it should be the standard for other immigrants fleeing serious threats. 

"What these representatives should be focusing on is not removing a route to status that Cuban families need, but they should be focusing on providing a route for so many other families that have none whatsoever," Tullius said.