They didn't reach the shore. The mother died, and the boy was found floating on a crummy raft in the middle of the ocean. Therefore, he had what they call "wet feet". Dry feet, stay in US, wet feet, back to the Workers Paradise you go.
"They didn't reach the shore. The mother died, and the boy was found floating on a crummy raft in the middle of the ocean. Therefore, he had what they call "wet feet". Dry feet, stay in US, wet feet, back to the Workers Paradise you go."
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You have the general policy correct, but you are mistaken about Elian -- only if the Coast Gueard had found him, would he have "qualified" to be sent back. Private people found him and saved him, so by the time the Coast GUard found out about him, he was on dry land, therefore legally entitled to stay and get residency.