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Obama Lifts Cuba Travel Restrictions
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by Rachel Nixon | April 13, 2009 at 08:48 am
419 views | 62 Recommendations | 20 comments
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UPDATED 1730 PDT: President Obama has lifted all US restrictions on Cuban American family visits and eased limits on the financial aid that can be sent to family members living on the island.
A White House statement said that the policy changes were designed "to reach out to the Cuban people in support of their desire to freely determine their country’s future".
It added that President Obama was "working to fulfill the goals he identified both during his presidential campaign and since taking office".
The policy changes cover a number of issues including travel to Cuba, remittances to family members, telecommunications links and gift parcels.
Specifically, the President has directed the Secretaries of State, Treasury, and Commerce to take the needed steps to:
- Lift all restrictions on transactions related to the travel of family members to Cuba.
- Remove restrictions on remittances to family members in Cuba.
- Authorize U.S. telecommunications network providers to enter into agreements to establish fiber-optic cable and satellite telecommunications facilities linking the United States and Cuba.
- License U.S. telecommunications service providers to enter into roaming service agreements with Cuba’s telecommunications service providers.
- License U.S. satellite radio and satellite television service providers to engage in transactions necessary to provide services to customers in Cuba.
- License persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction to activate and pay U.S. and third-country service providers for telecommunications, satellite radio and satellite television services provided to individuals in Cuba.
- Authorize the donation of certain consumer telecommunication devices without a license.
- Add certain humanitarian items to the list of items eligible for export through licensing exceptions.
The full text of the statement on the policy changes can be found on the White House website.
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Previously: President Obama is to lift some US restrictions to allow Cuban Americans to travel to Cuba and send financial aid to family members living there.
An official announcement is due later on Monday however an official said the move was intended to help Cubans in their quest for political freedom and democratic government.
The decision does not lift the trade embargo on communist Cuba but eases the prohibitions that have restricted Cuban Americans from visiting their relatives and has limited what they can send back home.
As a candidate, Obama promised to seek closer relations with Cuba, and courted Cuban voters in the key state of Florida. As president, he has signaled that he intends to move toward a greater openness.
A White House aide said the president believes that democratic change will come to the Cuban nation more quickly if the United States reaches out to the people of Cuba and their relatives in the United States.
Other steps taken Monday include allowing gift parcels to be send to Cuba, and issuing licenses to increase communications among and to the Cuban people.
The announcement comes three days before the US president travels to Trinidad for the Summit of the Americas.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (20)
at 09:30 on April 13th, 2009
Thanks for this story, Rachel!
at 09:43 on April 13th, 2009
I'm really happy to hear about this. It always perplexed me that my Cuban-American friends could only visit their families every few years.
at 09:50 on April 13th, 2009
Woah! Cubans can already to send financial aid.
American dollars sent to Cuba privately are the biggest single source of income in Cuba.
at 10:03 on April 13th, 2009
Roy, it is true that Cubans have been able to send money to family members in Cuba. However, both money and travel were restricted. See "An Overview of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, Title 31, Part 515 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations"
President Obama's action now permits unlimited money transfers and travel.
at 11:56 on April 13th, 2009
"American dollars sent privately are biggest source of income.."
HUH? Where would you get that?
at 10:06 on April 13th, 2009
"President Obama is to lift some US restrictions to allow Cuban Americans to travel to Cuba and send financial aid to family members living there."
Yes, I thought that was what was intended by this statement, but that is not what is actually said here. It looks as if there was an absolute restriction on sending money.
We want to give credit where it is due to the extent that it is due.
at 10:09 on April 13th, 2009
Roy, we definitely "...want to give credit where it is due to the extent that it is due." So, from the sourced material (chron.com):
"President Barack Obama directed his administration Monday to allow unlimited travel and money transfers by Cuban Americans to family in Cuba, and to take other steps to ease U.S. restrictions on the island, a senior administration official told The Associated Press."
at 10:11 on April 13th, 2009
The lead line, though, is not clear.
And, don't you wonder why we even have an embargo? What does it serve? Why didn't Clinton end it when the Soviet Union fell?
We trade with far more dangerous governments than Cuba, whose only danger was to foment revolution in Mexico.
at 10:41 on April 13th, 2009
Roy, I think it is very clear:)! I don't need to wonder; I believe Title 31, Part 515 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations was enacted because the United States could not "strong-arm" Cuba into 'submission'. In other words, into a 'democracy' of sorts that, in my opinion, is in itself illusion.
Clearly, it served no purpose other than serving as another demonstration (I think) that the United States is often a 'bully with a whip', who will go to great lengths to achieve its goals, including war, and under the guise of spreading democracy.
In any event, so I don't run on-and-on, I will provide you with the following light read, entitled "End the Embargo of Cuba".
at 13:33 on April 13th, 2009
Sorry, but I have to disagree that Castro represents the "will of the people of Cuba". We have every right to impede those who would foment revolutions to install totalitarian states which will be a threat to us in so many ways.
You don't think that the people of Cuba want Fidel to lead them still?
at 18:13 on April 14th, 2009
Roy, I apologize for the delay -- "We have every right to impede those who would foment revolutions to install totalitarian states which will be a threat to us in so many ways."
When has Cuba ever been a threat to the United States? and,
"You don't think that the people of Cuba want Fidel to lead them still?"
Former President Fidel Castro is no longer leading the people of Cuba; his brother President Raul Castro is. Nonetheless, I can not speak for the people of Cuba.
at 10:31 on April 13th, 2009
The telecommunications and Internet stuff will help topple the Castros. Just another reason that I never understood what Clinton was doing by continuing a policy that needed to be changed.
Having millions of visitors and unrestricted communication and contact is the best way to combat totalitarianism.
Castro may think he can ease the pain enough to stay in power. Instead, a younger generation used to being able to read and write and express themselves more freely becomes the bigger threat.
at 10:30 on April 13th, 2009
The real reason we didn't end the embargo was that Cuban-Americans would have voted against the party that lifted the restrictions.
Losing that major voting bloc would mean losing Florida and Florida has a lot of electoral college votes.
Another reason to vote for the president directly, and end the electoral college system.
I mention all of this because both parties have been involved in this unnecessary embargo.
at 10:45 on April 13th, 2009
"The real reason we didn't end the embargo was that Cuban-Americans would have voted against the party that lifted the restrictions."
Why would you think that?
at 10:48 on April 13th, 2009
Because they are all refugees from Castro's Cuba, fervently anti-communist. Supporters of activity that attempts to overthrow Castro.
Many have lost loved ones to Castro's persecutions. Homosexuals, Catholics, dissidents, people too successful with that restaurant in their own house, people who print up their own newspapers: all of them have ended up in his prisons or dead.
at 13:52 on April 13th, 2009
I lived in South Florida for over twenty years and agree with this contention. U.S. / Cuban Foreign Policy has always been a factor relative to attracting the Cuban/American vote.
at 10:52 on April 13th, 2009
United States embargo against Cuba
Cuban American Soften Stance
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Cuban+Americans+moderate+views+on+embargo-a0162621436
at 15:45 on April 13th, 2009
It's good to lift the ban, which will allow those Cuban Americans who wish to visit their relatives more readily.
Thanks, Rachel for this piece.
at 16:34 on April 13th, 2009
Thanks everyone for your comments. I have updated the piece with details from the White House fact sheet which provides more information on the specifics.
at 16:36 on April 13th, 2009
One good move, more need to follow.