New York, December 22 (RHC)-- The New York Times has called on the U.S. Congress to repeal the 1966 Cuban Adjustment Act, which encourages illegal, unsafe and disorderly migration of Cubans to the United States.

An editorial in the influential U.S. newspaper recalls that under that piece of legislation, also known as “wet-foot/dry foot” policy, Cuban immigrants who manage to arrive in the U.S., using whatever means, are admitted immediately, while those intercepted at sea are returned to the Caribbean state.

The Times editorial adds that the legislation, which favors human trafficking and organized crime, is creating serious problems for other regional countries, including Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Mexico.

The New York Times also called on the government of President Barack Obama to work out a new agreement with Cuban authorities to guarantee a safe, legal and orderly migration, under which illegal immigrants would be returned to Cuba.

The newspaper also urged the U.S. Congress to repeal another piece of legislation, the so-called Cuban Medical Professional Parole Program, which encourages Cuban medical professionals working abroad to defect from their missions and immigrate to the United States.