Free Republic

HAVANA — The Obama administration on Tuesday loosened rules on travel to Cuba and the Cuban government’s use of the dollar, removing obstacles to closer ties between the two countries five days before President Barack Obama makes a historic trip to Havana. The administration announced Tuesday that Americans can now take “people-to-people” trips to Cuba on their own instead of on expensive group tours. That means any American can legally go to Cuba as long as they fill out a form asserting that their trip was for educational purposes instead of tourism. The measure is expected to help fill demand...

Imagine having the right to get a passport, but not having the right to get it stamped. That’s been the de facto policy in Cuba for half a century where people are basically barred from packing their bags to take a trip abroad just for fun. Under the current policy, any Cuban wanting to travel abroad needs permission to leave the country, a process that many find not only demeaning, but expensive. Any request can be turned down, often without the applicant learning the reason why, but always after paying $150 to process the paperwork requesting the exit permit. Between...

Republican lawmakers of Cuban descent sharply criticized President Obama's plans to loosen Cuban travel policy to allow students and church groups to go to the communist country, saying the changes will benefit the Castro regime while doing little for the average citizen. "Loosening these regulations will not help foster a pro-democracy environment in Cuba," said U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "These changes will not aid in ushering in respect for human rights. And they certainly will not help the Cuban people free themselves from the tyranny that engulfs them."