U.S. changes requirements for some Cuba trips
Posted on Tuesday, 05.15.12
U.S. changes requirements for some Cuba trips
The U.S. changes on some people to people visits come after pressure from Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.
By Juan O. Tamayo
jtamayo@ElNuevoHerald.com
The U.S. Treasury Department has tightened a few of its restrictions on trips to Cuba by non-Cuban Americans on so-called people to people visits, saying that the revisions will help to deter abuses.
Complaints of abuses of such trips they must be for educational purposes, never for tourism have dogged the program since President Barack Obama approved it last year in a bid to increase Americans engagement with regular Cubans.
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., drew laughter during a speech in Washington last year when he read the schedule for one such trip, showing salsa dancing sessions every night. Other tours have met with Cuban government ministers and even a daughter of ruler Raúl Castro.
Rubio put a block on Roberta Jacobsons nomination as the top U.S. diplomat for Latin American until the Obama administration addressed some of the myriad complaints. Jacobson was sworn in earlier this month.
More:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/15/2801235/us-changes-requirements-for-some.html#storylink=cpy