One more middle finger? Obama kills policy helping Cuban refugees; Updated

https://twitter.com/SonnyBunch/status/819655978568261632

Awwww … isn’t this special? This afternoon, soon-to-be-ex-President Obama surprised his best pal Joe Biden with the Presidential Medal of Freedom:

JUST IN: Obama surprises Biden with Medal of Freedom award https://t.co/RKARoPg0yA pic.twitter.com/EXztoex8nm

— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) January 12, 2017

"I don’t deserve this," says Biden of the Presidential Medal, "but I know it came from the president’s heart." pic.twitter.com/vrS2YDPqJK

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) January 12, 2017

But our beloved POTUS had one other trick up his sleeve, one he was maybe hoping wouldn’t get nearly as much attention:

BREAKING: Administration official: Obama ending policy granting residency to Cubans entering US without visas.

— The Associated Press (@AP) January 12, 2017

Wet foot/dry foot is gone…
WASHINGTON (AP) — Official: Obama ending policy granting residency to #Cuba-ns entering #US without visas.

— Matt Lee (@APDiploWriter) January 12, 2017

SAO says repeal of "wet foot, dry foot" is effective immediately. Joint statement from US and Cuba expected today.

— Julie Pace (@jpaceDC) January 12, 2017

More from the AP:

The Obama administration is ending the “wet foot, dry foot” policy that granted residency to Cubans who arrived in the United States without visas.

That’s according to a senior administration official, who said the policy change was effective immediately.

The official said the U.S. and Cuba have spent several months negotiating the change, including an agreement from Cuba to allow those turned away from the U.S. to return.

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https://twitter.com/kaitlancollins/status/819655535637176320

And fleeing Cubans, with the finger. https://t.co/lWhhf5vZXr

— @JCRED the OG and ALPHA (@JCred) January 12, 2017

Just when you think Obama’s flipped his last bird, he goes and pulls something like this.

Whoa. https://t.co/vMfD02SjjH

— Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) January 12, 2017

Dude. WHAT. https://t.co/pJTYnTtwN2

— Lyndsey Fifield (@lyndseyfifield) January 12, 2017

@AceofSpadesHQ @APDiploWriter WHAAAT?!!!

— Don'tBanShan (@shansmith) January 12, 2017

Wow. Unbelievable. https://t.co/MgqFb6DjKL

— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) January 12, 2017

Hope and change much? https://t.co/4saoT6whiY

— Seth (@dcseth) January 12, 2017

Propping up Cuba's evil regime. Punishing those who flee it. https://t.co/1SoWSzXBGe

— Anthony Bialy (@AnthonyBialy) January 12, 2017

@SaintPetersblog so DREAMERS get special treatment but ppl fleeing communist dictators don't. Got it BHO. BUH BYE

— Fred Piccolo Jr (@FredPiccoloJr) January 12, 2017

https://twitter.com/keithfhamilton/status/819657263862468608

https://twitter.com/ellencarmichael/status/819656836118937602

bears repeating: "wiping your ass on the toilet seat before getting up" https://t.co/p1754JXh6D

— Nino (@baldingschemer) January 12, 2017

We’ll leave you with this from Commentary’s Noah Rothman:

https://twitter.com/NoahCRothman/status/819656454609182720

Editor’s note: This post has been updated with additional tweets.

***

Update:

Here’s President Obama’s official statement:

JUST IN: Pres. Obama: Cuban nationals who attempt to enter US illegally and don't qualify for humanitarian relief will be subject to removal pic.twitter.com/Jve0Zrk5Jd

— ABC News (@ABC) January 12, 2017

Lovely.

https://twitter.com/SethAMandel/status/819677729020854277

Editor’s note: With the White House releasing President Obama’s statement, we have removed “Report” from the headline.