Same Cuba, Same Policies: Why It Is Not Time To Lift The Travel Ban

Kristen Grimsland / November 27, 2009

The U.S. Committee on Foreign Affairs held a hearing last week on lifting the ban on travel to Cuba, revealing the high discrepancy among congressional members over whether or not restricting Americans from traveling to Cuba will ultimately influence democratic change and enhance human rights under the Castro regime.

Many representatives argued that this policy has failed at influencing democracy within the communist state and has prevented Americans from traveling where they please. Others claimed that by allowing Americans to travel to Cuba, to speak and have frequent contact between citizens will lead to greater openness and, in due course, democracy. These arguments, however, were refuted by the fact that the Castro regime persistently violates the fundamental rights of the Cuban people. Not to mention, most of the revenue made through tourism in Cuba ends up in the hands of the Cuban government. (more…)