Bill would drop travel restrictions to Cuba - Dallas Cowboys Forum

**trickblue** · 02-10-2009

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Bill would drop travel restrictions to Cuba
By Alexia Campbell | South Florida Sun Sentinel

While most of the nation focused on the stimulus bill winding through Congress, nine representatives introduced a bill calling for an end to the 46-year-old ban on travel to Cuba.

The Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on Feb. 4 would allow American citizens unrestricted travel to Cuba for the first time since 1963. The bill by Rep. William Delahunt, D-Mass., and eight co-sponsors would also lift limits on travel by Cuban exiles living in the United States. The president would not be able to regulate travel to the island unless an armed conflict or armed danger arises.

The bill has gone too far, said Francisco "Pepe" Hernandez, president of the Cuban American National Foundation. Cuban exiles should visit their families whenever they want, but tourists shouldn't spend money in resorts that Cubans are barred from. "It's improper and should not be allowed until the Cuban government makes some reforms," he said.

That's not the case for Jose Lopez, president of the Broward County Click here for restaurant inspection reports Latin Chamber of Commerce and a staunch supporter of the trade embargo.

"It's a betrayal and it's not going to resolve anything," said Lopez, who left Cuba in 1961.

Tourism dollars spent in Cuba will inject more oxygen into the dying Castro regime, he said. Lopez also thinks Cuban exiles who want to return to the island whenever they please are abusing their refugee privilege.

Many expect President Barack Obama to back a change in the policy. As a candidate for the presidency, Obama spoke in favor of reducing restrictions on remittances and travel to the island.

Co-sponsors to the bill include representatives Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., Sam Farr, D-Calif., and Ron Paul, R- Texas.

**ABQCOWBOY** · 02-10-2009

Just another access point for enemies of our Country to enter the U.S. from.

Doomsday101 · 02-10-2009

Obama and Jimmy Carter no surprise there.

**BrAinPaiNt** · 02-10-2009

Have no problem with it.

We should not have had this thing with Cuba for so long as it is.

And for those that say just another access point...you don't think cubans come into america every day already?

Heck this might be easier to keep track of them instead of them showing up in boats made from 1950's trucks or cars.

**trickblue** · 02-10-2009

The thing that surprised me was that Ron Paul is a co-sponsor...

**BrAinPaiNt** · 02-10-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by trickblue

The thing that surprised me was that Ron Paul is a co-sponsor...

Does not mean he would vote for it.

Heard him in an interview one time say that although he might not agree with a bill, that he may not vote for a bill, if the people that vote him in want him to present a bill he would because that is his job even if he does not agree with it.

Makes sense in an oddball sort of way I guess. I get the general drift of what he was saying but still odd.

**ABQCOWBOY** · 02-10-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrAinPaiNt

Have no problem with it.

We should not have had this thing with Cuba for so long as it is.

And for those that say just another access point...you don't think cubans come into america every day already?

Heck this might be easier to keep track of them instead of them showing up in boats made from 1950's trucks or cars.

So your point here is that because people are trying to sail into the U.S. now, it's a good idea to completely open up travel? Is that really what you are trying to say? How does the fact that Cuban's are trying to sneak into the U.S. by any means possible support that concept?

**BrAinPaiNt** · 02-10-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABQCOWBOY

So your point here is that because people are trying to sail into the U.S. now, it's a good idea to completely open up travel? Is that really what you are trying to say? How does the fact that Cuban's are trying to sneak into the U.S. by any means possible support that concept?

Because they would have to have some kind of ID and we could better track them on planes coming into international airports...or would you argue it easier to track them coming in illegally by other ways?

Is that what you are arguing?

And why would it be any different than any other citizens coming in from other countries unless we are led to believe that cuba is a hot bed for terrorists hell bent on destroying america.

Why would it be any worse for people coming in from Cuba than any other country?

Or is it because we have had this ban for so long that it is just hard to fathom the idea of lifting it?

Just curious.

**ABQCOWBOY** · 02-10-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrAinPaiNt

Because they would have to have some kind of ID and we could better track them on planes coming into international airports...or would you argue it easier to track them coming in illegally by other ways?

Is that what you are arguing?

And why would it be any different than any other citizens coming in from other countries unless we are led to believe that cuba is a hot bed for terrorists hell bent on destroying america.

Why would it be any worse for people coming in from Cuba than any other country?

Or is it because we have had this ban for so long that it is just hard to fathom the idea of lifting it?

Just curious.

Well, never mind about what that Country does to it's own citizens, the issue is one of getting them out once they are here. I mean, the last time we gave aminsty to Cuban's entering the U.S., what did we get? It's all good to check pass ports and the like but once they are here, how do prevent them from staying? Many have relatives and the like. They will get help and if they do not want to go back, that just creates more of a problem for INA to deal with. All it does is add to an already huge problem. Nevermind the security issues of actual enemies of the state.

So now I turn the question back on you. How do we effectively deal with this potential problem once we open the flood gates? Or is this just another of the Liberal feel good ideas it seems in vogue to float out there with little actual thought on how best to manage potential problems?

I would be interested in what is driving this? Is there a responsible reason for passing this legislture other then Nationalized Cubans wanting to see their families?

sacase · 02-10-2009

The biggest problem is the money that would flow over there. Cuba would become the biggest American tourist destination overnight. All of our policies we have taken up to this point will be meaningless. Casto and company would gain billions overnight. Foreign investment would sky rocket, home sales would shoot up. I would wager that the people backing this bill are probably getting a push from hotel companies or people who are heavily vested in the tourism industry. This bill is in direct conflict with Foreign policy.l

Doomsday101 · 02-10-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrAinPaiNt

Because they would have to have some kind of ID and we could better track them on planes coming into international airports...or would you argue it easier to track them coming in illegally by other ways?

Is that what you are arguing?

And why would it be any different than any other citizens coming in from other countries unless we are led to believe that cuba is a hot bed for terrorists hell bent on destroying america.

Why would it be any worse for people coming in from Cuba than any other country?

Or is it because we have had this ban for so long that it is just hard to fathom the idea of lifting it?

Just curious.

Last time we lifted or I should say Carter lifted the ban in 1977 the money they were making off American tourist was being used to help fund uprising in south and Central America. Given the close relationship Cuba has with Chavez I think it is a bad idea to lift the ban.

**BrAinPaiNt** · 02-10-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABQCOWBOY

Well, never mind about what that Country does to it's own citizens, the issue is one of getting them out once they are here. I mean, the last time we gave aminsty to Cuban's entering the U.S., what did we get? It's all good to check pass ports and the like but once they are here, how do prevent them from staying? Many have relatives and the like. They will get help and if they do not want to go back, that just creates more of a problem for INA to deal with. All it does is add to an already huge problem. Nevermind the security issues of actual enemies of the state.

Well we don't really mind too much what other countries do to their own citizens very much and do quite a bit of business with them despite the fact (cough SA cough) So I have a hard time using that argument of how they treat their citizens.

Who said by opening up US citizens from entering Cuba means we have to give Cubans Amnesty here? Are you implying I think we HAVE to let EVERYONE in and if so you would be wrong. Not even sure about setting up an embassy as that may or may not be down the road.
How do we prevent them from staying here...I guess you have the same problem with people coming across the borders in mexico or already coming over from Cuba illegally...but in this case you would at least have some ID (fake or real) and some pictures of them coming into the airport/customs.

Quote:

So now I turn the question back on you. How do we effectively deal with this potential problem once we open the flood gates? Or is this just another of the Liberal feel good ideas it seems in vogue to float out there with little actual thought on how best to manage potential problems?

I would be interested in what is driving this? Is there a responsible reason for passing this legislture other then Nationalized Cubans wanting to see their families?

You deal with this problem like you deal with any other countries citizens that we allow to come into our country in legal ways. Not sure why it would be different with them. Would we automatically lose our minds in how to deal with airport security and customs because they happen to have Cuba on the passport as opposed to Saudi Arabia?

Now I don't know the reason for it now. Could be that it is just long overdue. Could be because some people have special interest in tourism business.

But here is something that nobody seems to have thought of. Would it also not increase some of our business and exports by opening trade (if it gets to that down the road)? Would we not be able to offer automobiles and other goods to cuba?

Just something to think about.

I think we have been so conditioned over the years about cuba that people just have it stuck in their head that we could never open up and have any kind of relationship with them.

I would be interested in knowing what other countries we have a travel ban on...not a warning but an actual ban against traveling to them.

**ABQCOWBOY** · 02-10-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrAinPaiNt

Well we don't really mind too much what other countries do to their own citizens very much and do quite a bit of business with them despite the fact (cough SA cough) So I have a hard time using that argument of how they treat their citizens.

Who said by opening up US citizens from entering Cuba means we have to give Cubans Amnesty here? Are you implying I think we HAVE to let EVERYONE in and if so you would be wrong. Not even sure about setting up an embassy as that may or may not be down the road.
How do we prevent them from staying here...I guess you have the same problem with people coming across the borders in mexico or already coming over from Cuba illegally...but in this case you would at least have some ID (fake or real) and some pictures of them coming into the airport/customs.

[View Full Quote]

Again, you use previous failures as examples of how we should deal with the problem and seemingly as justification as to why we should allow it. The question, once again is, how do we prevent this from happening?

It makes no sense to allow it if you don't have an idea of how to deal with the problems that will almost certainly accompany it. It's a horse/cart thing. Don't ask me to support a piece of Legislation that you don't have any idea how to regulate, so to speak. Not saying you are asking me specifically Brain. I'm saying that it's stupid, IMO, for Congress to propose such a thing if no immediate solutions are in place to prevent the eventual problems associated. Making and existing problem larger is a bad idea.

**BrAinPaiNt** · 02-10-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABQCOWBOY

Again, you use previous failures as examples of how we should deal with the problem and seemingly as justification as to why we should allow it. The question, once again is, how do we prevent this from happening?

It makes no sense to allow it if you don't have an idea of how to deal with the problems that will almost certainly accompany it. It's a horse/cart thing. Don't ask me to support a piece of Legislation that you don't have any idea how to regulate, so to speak. Not saying you are asking me specifically Brain. I'm saying that it's stupid, IMO, for Congress to propose such a thing if no immediate solutions are in place to prevent the eventual problems associated. Making and existing problem larger is a bad idea.

Well I don't think it is a bad idea. I don't think it is anywhere near the ball park of problems you seem to think it is.
But then again I prefer to think for myself that just because we have had problems with them in the past means we must always have problems with them yet are ok with other countries we have had problems with in the past.

So I guess we can agree to disagree.

**ABQCOWBOY** · 02-10-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrAinPaiNt

Well I don't think it is a bad idea. I don't think it is anywhere near the ball park of problems you seem to think it is.
But then again I prefer to think for myself that just because we have had problems with them in the past means we must always have problems with them yet are ok with other countries we have had problems with in the past.

So I guess we can agree to disagree.

I guess we will have to. The problems I outlined are real and will happen. I know of know solution to prevent them so I guess we can just open the gates and let em in. We can worry about those problems later. As you said, it's probably not anywhere near the problem I think it is.