[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book I)]
[June 27, 1995]
[Pages 953-955]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks to the Cuban-American Community
June 27, 1995

    I want to speak with you today about my administration's plans to 
press forward with our efforts to promote a peaceful transition to 
democracy in Cuba. A little more than a month ago, I took steps to stop 
the dangerous and illegal flow of Cubans attempting to enter the United 
States by sea. I want to report to you on the results of these steps and 
why I believe it was the right thing to do. But first, let me be clear: 
our commitment to a better future for the Cuban people remains as strong 
as ever.
    Throughout our hemisphere, a powerful wave of democracy is bringing 
new respect for human rights, free elections, and free markets. Thirty-
four of the thirty-five countries in this region have embraced 
democratic change. Only one nation resists this trend, Cuba.
    Cuba's system is at a dead end politically, economically, and 
spiritually. The Castro regime denies Cubans their most basic rights. 
They cannot speak freely. They cannot organize to protest. They cannot 
choose their own leaders. At the same time, economic collapse threatens 
the well-being of every man, woman, and child in Cuba.
    The pressure of our embargo and the withdrawal of Soviet support 
have forced Cuba to adopt some economic measures of reform in the last 2 
years. We haven't seen that before. But economic change remains slow, 
stubborn, and painfully inadequate. The denial of basic rights and 
opportunities has driven tens of thousands of Cubans to desperation.
    In the summer of 1994, thousands took to treacherous waters in 
unseaworthy rafts, seeking to reach our shores; an undetermined number 
actually lost their lives. In response, I ordered Cubans rescued at sea 
to be taken to safe haven at our naval base at Guantanamo and, for a 
time, in Panama. But this could not be a long-term solution. Last fall, 
I ordered that the young, the old, and the infirm and their imme-


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diate families be admitted to our country. Thousands entered the United 
States in this way. Still, that left tens of thousands of young men at 
Guantanamo who were becoming increasingly frustrated and desperate. 
Senior United States military officials warned me that unrest and 
violence this summer were likely, threatening both those in the camps 
and our own dedicated soldiers.
    But to admit those remaining in Guantanamo without doing something 
to deter new rafters risked unleashing a new, massive exodus of Cubans, 
many of whom would perish seeking to reach the United States. To prevent 
that situation and to settle the migration issue, I took action. The 
Cuban rafters who were brought to Guantanamo last summer will be 
admitted to the United States, except those found to be inadmissible 
under U.S. law. Those Cubans rescued at sea while illegally trying to 
enter the United States will be taken back to Cuba. Under our generous 
program of legal immigration, 20,000 Cubans from Cuba will be allowed to 
enter and reside in the United States every year from now on. And we'll 
continue to provide assistance to Florida to help resettle those Cuban 
migrants.
    I know that many of you have questions about aspects of this policy. 
Yet, the simple truth is that there is no realistic alternative. We 
simply cannot admit all Cubans who seek to come here. We cannot let 
people risk their lives on open seas in unseaworthy rafts. And we cannot 
sentence thousands of young men to live in limbo at Guantanamo.
    Our new policy is working. Since its beginning on May 2d, few Cubans 
have been intercepted at sea. We cannot know how many lives have been 
saved by the deterrent effect of this policy. But consider this: In May 
of last year, some 700 Cubans were picked up and many others were lost 
at sea. Our new policy can help to avoid uncontrolled migration, and 
it's already saving lives.
    At the same time, we are making every effort to protect those at 
risk in Cuba. We will not return rafters who we believe would suffer 
reprisals back in Cuba. The U.S. Interests Section in Havana is 
carefully monitoring those sent home, visiting each of them individually 
to ensure they are not harassed. And thanks to our legal migration 
programs, over 15,000 Cubans have been approved to enter the United 
States since September 1994 as immigrants, parolees, and refugees. That 
is 3 times more than in any previous year.
    In short, the actions we took address the serious humanitarian 
problem at Guantanamo, deter illegal and unsafe migration, protect 
political refugees, and expand opportunities for legal admission from 
Cuba. They serve our national interests.
    Regularizing Cuban migration also helps our efforts to promote a 
peaceful transition to democracy on the island. For too long, Castro has 
used the threat of uncontrolled migration to distract us from this 
fundamental objective. With the steps I have taken, we are now able to 
devote ourselves fully to our real, long-term goal.
    Our policy is rooted in the Cuban Democracy Act, which I endorsed 
some 3 years ago and which subsequently passed the Congress with 
bipartisan support. Consistent with the act, the United States will 
maintain the economic embargo against the Cuban regime. This is an 
important way to promote change in Cuba, and it will remain in place 
until we see far-reaching political and economic reform. As provided in 
the act, if Cuba takes steps in the direction of meaningful change, we 
are also prepared to respond with our own carefully calibrated 
responses.
    The Cuban Democracy Act also calls on us to support the Cuban people 
in their struggle for democracy and economic well-being. We believe that 
reaching out today will nurture and strengthen the fledgling civil 
society that will be the backbone of tomorrow's democratic Cuba. We will 
continue to help Cuba's democratic opposition and the churches, human 
rights organizations, and others seeking to exercise the political and 
economic rights that should belong to all Cubans.
    Throughout the Americas, dictatorships have given way to democracy. 
They are following the path of reconciliation and forgiveness preached 
by Cuba's first Cardinal, Jaime Ortega, during his recent visit here to 
the United States. Cuba will follow this course of its neighbors. With 
the support of the American people and their representatives in 
Congress, we can move forward toward our common goal of a peaceful 
transition to democracy in Cuba. I hope that it will be my privilege as 
President to welcome a free Cuba back into the community of democratic 
nations.

[[Page 955]]

Note: The President's remarks were videotaped at noon on June 7 in the 
Oval Office at the White House for later broadcast, and they were 
released by the Office of the Press Secretary on June 27.