President Obama to ease travel restrictions to Cuba, allow more U.S. cash to island

[cal04]

Source: Miami Herald

The Obama administration Friday said it will allow for more U.S. travel to Cuba, making it easier for schools, churches and cultural groups to visit the island.

A senior Obama official told The Miami Herald the much-expected move to expand cultural, religious and educational travel to Cuba is part of the administration's continuing ``effort to support the Cuban people's desire to freely determine their own future.

President Barack Obama is also restoring the amount of money ($2,000) that can be sent to nonfamily members to the level they were at during part of the Clinton and Bush administrations. There will be a quarterly limit on the amount that any American can send: $500 per quarter to ``support private economic activity.''

The administration also will restore the broader ``people-to-people'' category of travel, which allows ``purposeful'' visits to increase contacts between U.S. and Cuban citizens.



Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/01/14/2016622/obama-to-ease-travel-restrictions.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. Good news. Another small step. Time to lift the entire travel ban on U.S. Americans next. Rec. n/t

[Mika]

10. 99.8% of Americans of non Cuban origin or w/o family still 2nd class citizens.

Cuban immigrants and Cuban-Americans can simply hop on a plane outta Miami for as many trips for any duration - the rest of us still have to apply for licenses.

Someone please explain why this is? Cuba is an "enemy state"? WTF has Cuba EVER done to the USA? Has Cuba launched attacks against the US or harbored terrorists who've attacked the US? No.

To continue the standoff is as ridiculous as would be continuing a cold war standoff against E Germany.

Still little reason to celebrate. More appeasement of the congressional status quo on pro/anti embargo fundraising planks in US privatized campaign funding. :argh:

---

[pleah]

2. K&R

[toddwv]

3. It's unbelievable that there are still restrictions at all.

It's about time that it is being addressed albeit slowly.

[dipsydoodle]

4. K & R

If you send any money then send Euro's. Outside of the government possession on even one single dollar has been an imprisonable offence since GWB accused Fidel of money laundering. Apart from that there is a 20% surcharge to change US$'s into convertible pesos.

[robcon]

5. Great news.

It's what Cuba needs... some tourism and exposure to Americans.

It would be great for Cubans to see the U.S., too.

[Mika]

9. Cubans used to get travel visas to come to the US, until W.

I know that you know this.

---

[robcon]

12. The problem wasn't the U.S. visas, as much as it was the risk of defection.

The Cubans often put guards around those who were visiting the U.S.

[Mika]

13. You are dreaming.

Prior to W Cubans used to visit their families in Miami all of the time. My in-laws came to visit several times. Several of my neighbors and my staff have had family members visit, go shopping, go to Disney, etc etc. Then they'd climb on a plane from Miami international and fly back to Cuba.

Saying that they had Cuban guards guarding them from "defection" is pure propaganda. Why you would write that is beyond any reasoning. :crazy:

Jeez.

---

[cal04]

6. Obama loosens Cuba travel policy, drawing mixed reactions

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/138089-obama-loosens-cuba-travel-policy-drawing-mixed-reactions

(snip)

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a Cuban immigrant, said the move to help those who live in Cuba would only aid the Cuban government.

“Loosening these regulations will not help foster a pro-democracy environment in Cuba," she said in a statement. "These changes will not aid in ushering in respect for human rights. And they certainly will not help the Cuban people free themselves from the tyranny that engulfs them.

(snip)
In contrast, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) applauded the move, noting that Cuba is the only country in the world to which the United States government doesn't allow open travel.

The policy will "open the way for the good will of citizens of both countries to forge deeper ties that are in our national interest today and in the future," he said in a statement. "This is an important step. If governments cannot solve the problems between them, at least they should get out of the way and let citizens work toward finding solutions."

[Judi Lynn]

8. The she-beast Ileana Ros-Lehtinen has stated publicly that after her family flounced here

after the Cuban Revolution, when the people threw the criminals and sadistic racists out of office, they assumed the U.S. government, with whom they were all tight, would simply blow up the new government and they would stomp right back to their positions of prominence in Cuba and reseize the reigns.

They don't seem to grasp the people threw them out because they couldn't stand them any longer, due to their brutality and corruption, and death squads going after those who disliked them.

What a shame this pig is heading the House's Foreign Affairs committee now. Last person in the world who should have that kind of influence, with the possible exception of Sarah Palin.

Thanks for John Kerry's comments!

[Mika]

11. Actually, they fled Cuba. Were not kicked out.

The Batistanos fled Cuba to escape prosecution for their persecution of pro sovereignty Cubans who supported the revolutionaries fighting to regain Cuban sovereignty from corporate/US stranglehold.

---

[frylock]

7. good job