Obama Administration Relaxes Rules on Travel to Cuba
President Obama has relaxed certain limits on travel between the U.S. and Cuba. Cuban-Americans with family members in Cuba will now be allowed to visit those family members as frequently as they want. Previously, travel between the countries was permitted only once every three years and was limited to those with a sister, brother, son, daughter, parent, or grandparent living in the island nation. Under the new rules, uncles, aunts, and cousines are also included.
Travel between the U.S. and Cuba has been severely restricted since 1962 when the U.S. instituted a trade and travel embargo after Fidel Castro came to power. Many members of Congress, and other groups, are pushing the President to go even further and completely remove all restrictions. Other Cuban-American groups, however, are pressing the administration to maintain the restrictions, believing that any influx of tourists and dollars to the region would only serve to strengthen the Communist dictatorship.