The Cuban Adjustment Act was a significant legislative measure that shaped U.S. immigration policy regarding Cuban migrants. Signed into law on November 2, 1966, by President Lyndon B. Johnson, the act allowed Cuban nationals who had been admitted or paroled into the United States to apply for permanent residency after one year of living in the country. This law was primarily geared towards those who left Cuba in the aftermath of the Cuban Revolution, as many were fleeing political persecution and economic distress inflicted by the Castro regime.

The act allowed for an extraordinary opportunity because, unlike other immigrants, Cubans arriving on U.S. shores were treated with a unique set of privileges. It introduced the concept of 'wet foot, dry foot', which effectively meant that if a Cuban made it to land (dry foot), they would be permitted to stay in the U.S. and pursue residency status, while those intercepted at sea (wet foot) would typically be returned to Cuba. This law highlighted the Cold War context, where the U.S. aimed to provide refuge to those escaping communist oppression.

The impact of the Cuban Adjustment Act was profound and lasting. With the provision enabling Cuban exiles a path to successful integration into American society, a significant Cuban community emerged primarily in places like Miami, Florida. Their influence on cultural, social, and economic life in the U.S. continues to be felt, contributing significantly to the fabric of American multiculturalism. As a result of the act, immigration patterns from Cuba surged, shaping U.S.-Cuban relations and immigration discussions in the decades that followed.