Bill Overview
Title: Cuban Family Reunification Parole Act of 2022
Description: This bill directs the Department of State to restart processing applications under the Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program. (The program, which was suspended in 2017, allows eligible U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to apply for parole for family members in Cuba, who can then enter the United States while waiting for immigrant visas.) The State Department must prioritize applications filed before this bill's enactment and ensure that the adjudication of such applications begin no later than six months after this bill's enactment date.
Sponsors: Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-23]
Target Audience
Population: Cuban citizens with family members in the U.S.
Estimated Size: 200000
- The Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program is designed to benefit U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs) with family members in Cuba.
- Under this bill, once processing resumes, family members in Cuba of eligible individuals will be able to travel to the U.S. before obtaining formal immigrant visas.
- The Cuban diaspora predominantly resides in the United States, and many have family members still in Cuba, signifying a large potential group impacted by this bill.
Reasoning
- The policy is specifically intended to assist U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents with Cuban family members in navigating immigration hurdles for family reunification.
- Given the program's suspension and the backlog, a significant portion of the Cuban-American community would welcome this policy, potentially improving their well-being as it allows faster reunification with family.
- Budget constraints limit the immediate total number of people assisted by this policy, specifically prioritizing applications filed before the policy's enactment.
- The overall well-being impact will vary depending on individual circumstances, such as their connection to family in Cuba and their access to alternative immigration pathways.
- Not all Cuban-Americans have family in Cuba with whom they wish to reunite, suggesting that the policy will have a varied but significant impact across this population.
Simulated Interviews
Nurse (Miami, FL)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am thrilled about this policy because it gives me hope for finally reuniting with my family after years of waiting.
- The process has been frustrating and slow; I just want my family here with me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Software Engineer (New York, NY)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I personally am not immediately impacted, I see this as an important step for family connections.
- It will help my parents to be less worried about our family back in Cuba.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Business Owner (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is something I have been advocating for, as it's been years since I last saw my sister.
- It's still a government program, so I'll reserve full judgment until I see execution.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Retired (Houston, TX)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have limited capability to travel due to my health, bringing my grandchildren here would mean the world to me.
- I just want more years to spend with my family.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Graduate Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 25 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The ability to bring my family here even temporarily would reduce my stress and improve my focus on studies.
- This program was a real lifesaver for many before, I hope to see it help more now.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Uber Driver (Orlando, FL)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is an opportunity I can't afford to miss. With this program, my family can be united here.
- I hope there are no more delays and they prioritize long-pending cases.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Teacher (Tampa, FL)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've been hopeful about such changes but have seen promises broken before.
- This can ease the emotional burden seeing close family again after many years.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Artist (Las Vegas, NV)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Being able to bring my family on parole would be a huge improvement for me.
- I travel often to Cuba for my work, having them here eases my personal stress a lot.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Accountant (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our lives are on hold due to visa issues, I hope this eases part of the process.
- We need to see if this will really expedite the application without extra layers of bureaucracy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support this policy even though it doesn't directly affect me because it's crucial for the community.
- Strengthening family unity will only bolster our community more strongly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $200000000 (Low: $180000000, High: $220000000)
Year 2: $210000000 (Low: $190000000, High: $230000000)
Year 3: $215000000 (Low: $195000000, High: $235000000)
Year 5: $225000000 (Low: $205000000, High: $245000000)
Year 10: $240000000 (Low: $220000000, High: $260000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Given the historical context and family-based immigration tendency among Cuban Americans, a significant flow of applications is expected which necessitates efficient processing capacity.
- The U.S. foreign policy towards Cuba may affect the implementation and pace of the program.
- The reimplementation will necessitate extensive coordination with U.S. immigration services and Cuban authorities.