Channeling My Inner Jackie: Newsday Tuesday: Cuba

The President's recent shift on the U.S.'s policy toward Cuba has left many Americans - and Cubans- confused. Is Cuba the newest travel destination for American citizens dying to sip on a glass of Havana Club (7 year, of course)? For most, probably not. However, restrictions on travel to the island have changed significantly, especially for those traveling to see family or on religious or educational visas.

Sunset lit street after an afternoon rain shower - Santa Clara, Cuba

According to the White House, authorized travelers can get general licenses if they are traveling for the following reasons: "(1) family visits; (2) official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments, and certain intergovernmental organizations; (3) journalistic activity; (4) professional research and professional meetings; (5) educational activities; (6) religious activities; (7) public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions; (8) support for the Cuban people; (9) humanitarian projects; (10) activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes; (11) exportation, importation, or transmission of information or information materials; and (12) certain export transactions that may be considered for authorization under existing regulations and guidelines."
-- USA Today

Travelers are able to gain permission to go to the island for specific purposes, as long as they are not strictly for tourism. Additionally, Americans in Cuba will be able to use debit and credit cards (this is HUGE - it's pretty scary to walk around a country carrying nothing but cash, and hoping you have enough to get you through!) Previously, organizations had to apply to obtain a 'status' that enabled them to apply for travel visas for a specific purpose - for instance, religious reasons. These visas gave Americans like me, permission to travel to Cuba as long as my itinerary met certain specifications. Although I do have family still on the island, making the case to visit your second cousin once removed can be a little dicey. (Especially when you don't actually know who they are.)

me with my friend, Clarita in Santa Clara. She still sends me letters!

Last week American diplomats traveled to Cuba to meet with officials regarding the changes in policy, allowing reporters to sneak an exclusive peek at famous places like El Malecòn, or La Bodeguita del Medio, or La Floridita -- the places that the likes of Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack were known to frequent. While many of us (Americans, that is) are excited for the policy changes and the loosening of restrictions, many Cubans are worried that the 'perks' they were once guaranteed as refugees might come to an end. President Lyndon B. Johnson enacted the 1966 Cuban Adjustment Act which provided permanent residency to any Cuban in the U.S. one year after their arrival. Policies like this and the "wet foot dry foot policy" have in a sense made Cubans the 'golden children' of the U.S. immigration system, guaranteed rights that no other immigrants have.

While U.S. officials have said that there is no plan to change or repeal its policy toward Cuban immigrants seeking political asylum, many are still worried that pressure from the Cuban regime might prompt the U.S. to amend the act. President Obama's seemingly abrupt about face on Cuban foreign policy has many worried that they might miss out on the benefit of political asylum if they do not act immediately. In the last months of 2014, between the Miami airport and the Mexican border, the number of immigrating Cubans increased by nearly 65%. Havana has repeatedly made claims that the U.S.'s policy toward immigrating Cubans has contributed significantly to its 'brain drain' of young professionals and encouraging risky migration practices (last month alone, the Coast Guard intercepted 481 rickety boats and rafts -- an increase of 117% compared from the year before).
While many are encouraged by the policy shift, while others (especially Cuban immigrants like Marco Rubio) are concerned that more open relations will help 'prop up the regime'. I believe that opening our borders with Cuba will allow for a more natural evolution of change, and I think it will ultimately dismantle the socialist system within Cuba.

I'm encouraged to see what the future holds for Cuba and the U.S. and am excited to see the day that I can take my husband through the streets of Havana, show him where my Great Grandmother and Cousins lived in Matanzas, or where our family beach house was at Varadero (Cuba's premier resort). Cuba remains largely untouched, and boasts beautiful countryside, traditional Spanish architecture, warm people and climate, and of course, amazing Mojitos. Here are a few snapshots from my trips to Havana and Santa Clara.

Sources: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/fears-of-immigration-policy-change-triggers-new-wave-of-cuban-migrants/2015/01/27/8d6ca65c-a0e5-11e4-91fc-7dff95a14458_story.html

Here are some photos from my visits to Cuba. These photos are of Santa Clara and Havana, the cities I spent the most time in.