The newly imposed travel embargo limits the travel of US citizens, and severely impacts the economy of Cuba. Read about it in a Consorium News update from June 14, 2019:
https://consortiumnews.com/2019/06/11/extending-the-us-embargo-on-cuba-hurting-the-people/
Read about how the US travel restrictions to Cuba harm both US and Cuban citizens in this informative article by counterpunch published June 12, 2019:
This opinion piece by the Bar Area Reporter published on June 5, 2019 highlights key features of Cuba’s current state and continuous fight for solidarity:
We provide links to articles published on Trump’s recent efforts to decimate Cuba’s economic prosperity. The following overview the current state of the Western Hemisphere and the US’ involvement:
prweb.com published June 6, 2019: https://www.prweb.com/releases/medicc_decries_added_us_restrictions_for_travel_to_cuba/prweb16361650.htm
Chicago Tribune article published June 5, 2019: https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/steve-chapman/ct-perspec-chapman-mexico-tariffs-cuba-venezuela-trump-20190605-story.html
Commondreams.org published on June 5, 2019: https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/06/05/travel-cuba-falls-victim-john-boltons-wrath
Trump’s recent restrictions on U.S. travel to Cuba have many implications, and the elimination of the group people-to-people educational travel has serious consequences on the private sector workers. Learn about the affects from an article published by voanews.com on June 5, 2019:
https://www.voanews.com/a/trump-s-cruise-ban-hits-cuba-s-private-sector-workers/4947872.html
Let’s end US travel and trade restrictions that harm the people of Cuba and the US!
In April of 1960, State Department officials wrote that the goal of the U.S. embargo of Cuba was “…to bring about hunger, desperation and overthrow of the government” (State Department, April 6, 1960). Today the Cuban people still experience shortages of many essentials including life-saving medicines and medical products.
When we meet with our legislators in DC or in district we advocate for policies that benefit the people of our two countries. Even though polling shows that 96% of Cubans living on the island support lifting the trade embargo and have said that more tourism would benefit the local economy, President Trump announced in 2017 that “in solidarity with the Cuban people” the U.S. would add more barriers to trade and travel to Cuba. Since polling has also shown that 63% of Cuban-Americans in Miami-Dade County oppose the continuation of the embargo and 73% of people in the U.S. favor ending the embargo we have to ask who is in favor of these restrictions?
CRLN has worked with faith communities in Cuba and the U.S. for more than twenty years to end harmful U.S. policies, believing that the human rights of Cubans and the people of the US would best be served by lifting all travel restrictions and finally ending the embargo.
We are seeking co-sponsors for the following legislation – We are asking legislators to co-sponsor the following bill that will end restrictions to trade and travel:
S.428 – The Freedom to Export to Cuba Act of 2019 — A bill to lift the trade embargo on Cuba.
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mike Enzi (R-WY), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) reintroduced major legislation to lift the Cuba trade embargo. The bipartisan Freedom to Export to Cuba Act (S428) would eliminate the legal barriers to Americans doing business in Cuba and pave the way for new economic opportunities for American businesses and farmers by boosting U.S. exports and allow Cubans greater access to American goods. The legislation repeals key provisions of previous laws that block Americans from doing business in Cuba, but does not repeal portions of law that address human rights or property claims against the Cuban government. U.S. and Cuban faith communities have long advocated for the lifting of the embargo because of the suffering it causes in Cuba.
We are also asking legislators to urge the State Department to process visas for Cubans in Cuba. The Trump Administration ordered staff reductions at the US Embassy in Havana, Cuba and at the Cuban Embassy in Washington, DC in response to health issues experienced by some personnel at the US and Canadian Embassies in Havana. Now all staff that would issue visas to Cubans to visit the U.S. have left the Embassy. The FBI did not find any evidence linking the health issues to actions by the Cuban government during its three visits to the island and the investigation is ongoing.
Now Cubans who want to get visas for tourist travel or permanent reunification with their families must travel to another country to get these visas. In the past many Cubans were able to obtain visas for five years. This enabled religious leaders, scientists, artists as well as people with family in the U.S. to travel without applying for a visa each time. This five year visa has been discontinued and Cubans can only receive a visa for one visit in a three month period. The cost of plane fare, waiting in the third country to see if they can get a visa and the $160 non-refundable fee just to apply have made it financially impossible for most Cubans to apply for a visa. There must be a way to process Cuban visas in Cuba. Otherwise the U.S. has effectively created a travel ban against Cubans visiting the US for family reunification or other purposes.
For more information:
More information on S.428 – The Freedom to Export to Cuba Act of 2019 — A bill to lift the trade embargo on Cuba.
Cubans frustrated over U.S. move to end five-year visitor visas
Cubans Take to Facebook to Air Grievances Over New Visa Restrictions
https://latinousa.org/2019/03/19/cubansfacebook/
Background Information from before April 2018
Statement by the Cuban Council of Churches regarding recent changes in US policy
A Cuban pastor’s response to President Trump’s Cuba policies
https://baptistnews.com/article/cuban-pastors-response-president-trumps-cuba-policies/#.Ws6LwC7wYnR
Church World Service Says New Restrictions on Cuban Travel Will Hurt the Cuban People and Churches https://cwsglobal.org/cws-statement-on-cuba-june-2017/
Catholic leaders: Dialogue between U.S. and Cuba must continue
U.S. Halt in Visa Services Leaves Cuban Families in Limbo https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/05/world/americas/cuba-us-visas.html
Cubans who want to visit the U.S. now face more difficult and expensive hurdles
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article177305716.html
Claiming to be “in solidarity with the Cuban people”, President Trump announced policy changes in 2016 that harm the Cuban people as well as the people of the U.S. The most serious damage has been caused by the Administration’s reduction of embassy staff in Havana. This means that Cubans are expected to fly to Colombia to apply for a visa to travel to the United States. Since Cubans already pay the embassy a fee representing several month’s income just to apply, adding the cost of a trip to Colombia makes getting a visa financially impossible for most Cubans.
We have to ask who these policy changes are for?
Polling shows that 96% of Cubans living on the island support lifting the trade embargo and have said that more tourism would benefit the local economy. Since polling has also shown that 63% of Cuban- Americans in Miami-Dade County oppose the continuation of the embargo and 73% of people in the U.S. favor ending the trade embargo.
CRLN has worked with faith communities in Cuba and the U.S. for more than twenty years to end harmful U.S. policies. In 2017, we will be advocating for an end to these policies, believing that the human rights of Cubans and the people of the U.S. would best be served by lifting all travel restrictions and finally ending the embargo.
(Español Aqui)
While diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba have been reestablished and some trade and travel restrictions have been changed by executive order, the embargo remains in place and the Cuban people still experience the shortages of crucial medicines and other essential products. Imposed in the early sixties to “bring about hunger, desperation and overthrow of the government” (State Department, April 6, 1960) the U.S. embargo is often called a blockade because of the widespread effects of these policies. CRLN has worked with many other organizations for more than twenty years to end these harmful policies carried out in our name. This work has led to many positive changes in policy. Because these policy changes were made by executive order our current president was able on June 16 to reinstate some of the limits to travel and trade. Action by Congress is required to finally end all the U.S. restrictions including the embargo and this year several bi-partisan bills have been reintroduced in the House and Senate. By working together we can change these harmful policies!
IL Senators Durbin and Duckworth are (or soon will be) co-sponsors of the bills in the Senate, so in Illinois we are focusing on the Illinois Representatives. Call the Capitol Switchboard today at 202-224-3121 to be connected to your Representative. Let them know that now is the time to finally lift these restrictions (sample script below)! Be sure to thank them if they are a co-sponsor already.
House Bills
✱ The Cuba Agricultural Exports Act (H.R. 525)
Introduced by Rep. Eric A. Crawford (R-AR-1)
This bill seeks to repeal financing restrictions, allowing firms in the U.S. to offer credit to Cuba in connection with exports of U.S. agricultural goods. It also seeks to eliminate restrictions on key federal funding used in agricultural export promotions. Current Illinois representatives co-sponsoring are: Robin Kelly (D- IL 02), Rodney Davis (R-IL 13), Cheri Bustos (D- IL 17), Darin LaHood (R- IL18), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-8)
✱ The Cuba Trade Act (H.R. 442)
Introduced by Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN-6)
This bill would allow businesses in the private sector to trade freely with Cuba, while prohibiting taxpayer funds to be used on promotion or development of a new market. Current Illinois representative co-sponsoring is Darin LaHood (R-IL 18)
✱ The Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act (H.R. 351)
Introduced by Rep. Mark Sanford (R-SC-1)
The bill simply removes the current travel restrictions to Cuba.
Suggested Script for IL Representatives “As your constituent, I want you to know that I strongly support continued U.S. engagement with Cuba. Increased travel and trade with Cuba allows your constituents their right to travel to Cuba, but also helps to improve the lives of the Cuban people.
The U.S. embargo on Cuba has hurt both the Cuban and the American people. I urge you to co-sponsor HR 525, HR 442 and HR 351 to lift the U.S. travel ban and trade embargo on Cuba.” (if they have co-sponsored you can add the thank-you in this paragraph)
