Havana, Oct 30 (Prensa Latina) The US uses emigration as a weapon against Cuba, encouraging illegal emigration from the Island while hypocritically, with walls and laws, trying to get rid of all other illegal immigrants in the United States.

   On the 40th anniversary of the Cuban Adjustment Act, which gives automatic residency and job permits to – only Cubans – who reach US territory, a Cuban weekly examined the law on Monday.

   After several failed US legislative attempts to annual this special privilege law, in force since Nov 2, 1966, illegal emigration continues to make victims of thousands, including children.

   Trabajadores weekly notes that President George Bush (Senior) reaffirmed the law that okays legal residency in the United States to every Cuban after 12 months.

   The law opened US doors to criminals and torturers of pre-1959 tyranny with temporary visas, and the expatriation of 14,000 children without their parents.

   With this “Open Sesame” to the mythologized land of prosperity, to enter which thousands of would be immigrants all over the world wait years or risk their lives, the US can present Cuba as a "diabolic place" from which everyone tries to escape.

   The US also focuses the brain and brawn drain on Cuba, actively recruiting professionals and athletes who receive their training free from the Revolution.

   US violation of visa procedures caused an emigration crisis in 1965, 1980 and 1994 when thousands of Cubans resorted to massive illegal emigration.

   After this, both countries signed an agreement in 1994 and anti-Cuba representatives pushed through the "dry feet-wet feet" addendum to prevent defeat of the Cuban Adjustment Act –- allowing those who reach dry land to stay, while those intercepted at sea are repatriated.

   The weekly asserts that the White House encourages the exodus of Cubans to attract financial support and votes from conservative southern Florida voters, who favor discord between the two countries.

   The Cuban community in the US has a greater representation in Congress than other, larger, communities.

(Prensa Latina) 30-10-2006