Ros-Lehtinen Softens Stance on Cuban Adjustment Act

The longest-serving Cuban-American in Congress may be easing her support for the Cuban Adjustment Act.

Miami Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen has long defended the act, which generally shields Cubans from deportation if they reach U.S. shores and fast-tracks the process for permanent residency. But in a segment taped for "Facing South Florida with Jim DeFede" on Sunday, Ros-Lehtinen said a Sun Sentinel investigation alerted her to welfare abuses by recent Cuban migrants collecting U.S. assistance and returning to Cuba.

According to the newspaper (http://bit.ly/1SeAJvH), the congresswoman told DeFede that while she doesn't favor completely ending the act, she does think Cubans exploiting it "should not have the privilege."

She said she's leaving reforms to another Florida Republican, Carlos Curbelo, who is working on legislation to modify the act by sanctioning Cubans who return to Cuba before becoming U.S. citizens.