SNIP
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>I don't quite understand why they let people into the U.S. if they happen to reach the shore, and not otherwise. Seems like a fairly arbitrary criterion to me. Does anybody know what is the reasoning behind this policy?

I don't KNOW, Hilmar, but I'll give you a guess.

Firstly, be aware that this policy (reaching land) only applies to Cubans. Any other illegal immigrant arriving the same way is likely to be sent home, even if found out only years later.

My THEORY is that instant acceptance used to apply to any Cuban who made it into the U.S. territorial waters. But at some time, for some reason, this was changed to the present policy. Possibly because, every now and then, President Castro used to empty the jails and 'invite' the (ex-)convicts to take a swim to the U.S. They may have even provided vehicles.
Now the rule applies to Cubans because of the special case Cuba presents, the Communist regime/Bay of Pigs/Missile Crisis all being factors.

By the way I agree that the resourcefulness displayed should have made their entry permitted and celebrated.