Although President Obama’s efforts were made in the right direction – to get Cuba onto a platform of normal relations it may have dovetailed into a rather unwanted consequence – speeding Cuba’s migration of people to the United States.

Ever since the President has started reaching out to Cuba in the later part of the year 2014 Coast Guard authorities have been reporting an increase in movement activities- they report that a larger number of Cubans are using flimsy, makeshift boats to head out to Florida. The agency recently reported that 481 Cubans were stopped at sea, a rise in 117 per cent over the same time in the year 2013.

Most of the migrants stated that they decided to shift to America as they felt that the super power would put to an end the special benefits that it was giving the Cubans under the purview of the Cuban Adjustment Act. Cubans receive special treatment in America, unlike other immigrants. They are considered as “political refugees” and get access to permanent residency. Just after a year of staying in the country Cubans can apply for green cards. This is a “lightning fast track” as compared to the policies followed for other immigrants.

Although U S immigration officials have repeatedly been saying that there would be no changes to the existing policy the rumors about Cuba-U S relations have been spreading so fast that it has prompted many Cubans to try migrating to America through the coast of Florida.

It was in April 2015 that President Obama spoke with Castro at Panama. This evoked a strong migratory response from the Cubans as it was feared that an immigration policy shift was on the cards.