Washington eases travel restrictions to Cuba

[Jimmy2]

By FRANCES ROBLES

The Obama administration has lifted the Cuba travel restrictions enacted five years ago by President George W. Bush, meaning Cuban Americans can now visit their relatives on the island once a year -- for as long as they like.

In its 2009 budget bill, Congress took away the U.S. Department of Treasury's funding for enforcement of more restrictive rules that only allowed visits to immediate relatives once every three years.

That meant the trips were still illegal -- but the U.S. government did not have the funding to investigate it.

On Wednesday night, the Treasury department lifted the restrictions all together, making annual trips to Cuba legal. A rule posted on the Office of Foreign Assets Control's web site shows Cuban Americans can now follow the regulations that existed prior to Bush's June 2004 toughened rules.

The rollback also means people can visit more distant relatives, including those by marriage.

"I think it's another indication of the Obama administration's seriousness about reforming this policy toward Cuba," said Sarah Stephens, of the Center for Democracy in the Americas, a Washington, D.C. organization, which advocates Cuba travel. "I don't think this is the last you are going to hear from the administration."

Noted by me : Lets hope Obama does more all he did was take away what Bush put in place years ago and reinstated old out dated laws but will benefit Cuban Americans going to visit Cuba which is a great thing.So really Obama has done no big changes to American /Cuban policy to benefit all Americans who should be able to freely travel whee they like.But lets hope something good comes out of it but i have my doubts hell i am almost 40 years old i want to go while i am still young.

[Habanos2000]

All we need is for Punch Joe to adopt us and we'll be good to go!

[Jimmy2]

That would make a great story for a movie he would hAve over 100 sons and more than half would be older than him.LOL