Cubans in Miami offer mixed reactions to new diplomatic relations

MIAMI - Some Cuban exiles in Miami are outraged. Others are ecstatic that President Barack Obama has secretly arranged prisoner exchanges with Cuban leader Raul Castro as part of an effort to normalize relations.

Exile Jose Basulto heads Brothers to the Rescue, a group whose planes dropped leaflets over Cuba. He's happy that former USAID subcontractor Alan Gross is out of a Cuban prison, but dismayed that three convicted Cuban spies were being released in exchange.

One of those spies has been serving a life term for shooting down one of his group's planes.

At the Little Havana cafeteria in Miami, Edwin Gonzalez and his father-in-law are furious about the Obama Administration's announcement that it will restore diplomatic relations with Havana by opening up travel, trade and information between the two countries.

"I personally feel it would be a betrayal of him and what he left Cuba for," Gonzalez told CBS Miami.

President Obama's position is that isolating Cuba hasn't worked. Most at the café agree, but still don't want to see this change in policy.

"I absolutely agree it has not worked but sometimes you have to do something because it's the right thing to do as a matter of principle and conviction," said Gonzalez.

Certainly not all Cuban-Americans hold this view, especially in the younger generations who are excited about the prospect of even easier travel to Cuba.

But the hardline Cuban-Americans gathered at Cafe Versailles, many of whom risked their lives to leave communism on that island behind, are not on board with these sweeping changes.

In his speech announcing the change, President Obama seemed to take into account the anger that would be likely in the exile community.

"To those who oppose the steps I'm announcing today, let me say that I respect your passion and share your commitment to liberty and democracy," Mr. Obama said. "The question is how we uphold that commitment. I do not believe we can keep doing the same thing for over five decades and expect a different result. Moreover, it does not serve America's interests, or the Cuban people, to try to push Cuba toward collapse."

CBS Miami reports it is unclear if the change will prompt protests in the community.