Travel To Cuba

Travel to Cuba has been restricted to citizens of the Americas since 1917 when the Trading with the Enemy Act was authorized. Since that time, travel to the island nation has been affected by several other U.S laws. The Cuban Assets Control Act passed in 1963 specified essential elements of the embargo restricting American citizens from doing any financial transactions with Cubans, specifically travel there, which was restricted for all but licensed citizens with specifically authorized business.

These embargo issues have been relaxed and tightened over the years: President Carter removing them in 1977 and President Reagan replacing them with even stricter rules in 1982. Travel to Cuba has been restricted ever since that time for the normal American citizen. The Cuban Democracy Act was signed into law by Bush in 1992, during the time the Soviet Union experienced its downfall. This measure was meant to further isolate Cuba from economic assistance, and made American citizens who broke the embargo by going to Cuba subject to penalties equivalent to $50,000. A further measure against foreign investment there came in 1996 when the Cuba Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act (aka the Helms-Burton Act) was passed after two small planes were shot down by Cuban militia to stop U.S-based aid to Cuban exiles. It is always the hope of many American Christians that peaceful relations can once again be established between the United States and the Cuban nation. Jesus blessed those who work toward the goal of peace. "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." (Matthew 5:9)

Cuba, meanwhile, opened the island to investments from foreign sources, especially encouraging travel to Cuba. However, with such heavy restrictions placed on travel to that country by the U.S., groups with valid reasons to conduct important business within the realm of scientific research sought changes to the requirements for a permit go to Cuba. The Office of Foreign Assets Control issued specific licenses to scientific and academic persons proving their intent for journeying there. President Clinton eased these regulations in 1999 to expand humanitarian assistance to the island nation, which exempted that kind of aid from the requirement for OFAC licenses, while still meeting certain guidelines and restrictions.

Those persons who may travel to Cuba with a General License, which does not require that documentation be carried with them, are those involved in professional research and meetings, government representatives, and journalists on assignment. Free-lance journalists may go to Cuba also, but must have a specific license to do so. Specific licenses to travel to the Cuban nation for two-year periods may also be obtained by undergrad and graduate students in study-abroad programs; people-to-people exchange programs; and international relations organizations with noncommercial purposes other than those involved in research, already in the general category. These groups must apply for a license to travel through the U.S. Treasury.

A third type of permitted trip is by third-party, fully hosted groups. However, the regulations are very specific as to origination of the flight, the types of items brought back into the U.S. and the payment of all expenses by a host not subject to the U.S. embargo restrictions. Travel to the Cuban island nation, only 112 miles from the coast of Florida, is possible; however the guidelines are quite specific.

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