The United States President, Barack Obama had announced on Thursday that the US is ending a longstanding policy that granted residency to Cubans who arrived in the United States without visas.

Reacting to this, the Cuban government welcomed the decision, saying it is “positive”. The special U.S. immigration treatment for Cuba, known as the “wet-foot/dry-foot” policy,  has been in place for more than 20 years.

As the new measure became effective immediately, Cubans who attempt to enter the United States illegally and do not qualify for humanitarian relief will be subject to removal. The Cuban government has agreed to accept the return of Cubans who have been ordered to be removed.

“By taking this step, we are treating Cuban migrants the same way we treat migrants from other countries,” Obama said in a statement, calling it an important step forward to normalize relations with Cuba.

The policy began in 1995 under President Bill Clinton’s administration and is one of many Cold War-era policies that persisted despite the restoration of diplomatic relations and efforts to normalize ties between the cold war foes.