U.S. to relax some Cuba restrictions

The U.S. State Department said Monday that it will lift the limit on family remittances to Cuba of $1,000 per quarter-year. It will also allow nonfamily remittances to support independent Cuban business owners. The United States will also allow scheduled and charter flights to locations beyond Havana and move to reinstate the Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program. That program allows certain U.S. citizens and legal residents to apply to let family members come to the United States sooner than the visa process normally allows.

Why the change? Former President Barack Obama took steps to cooperate more with the communist country, while former President Donald Trump restricted travel and money transfers to Cuba, citing the country’s destabilizing effect on the Western Hemisphere. State Department spokesman Ned Price said Biden’s policy changes “aim to support Cubans’ aspirations for freedom and for greater economic opportunities.” Critics say the moves will only strengthen the hand of Cuba’s oppressive communist government.

Dig deeper: Read Onize Ohikere’s report in World Tour about economic protests in Cuba last year.