The Cuba Travel Ban: A Background

Most U.S. citizens are legally prohibited from traveling to Cuba.

Restrictions on travel by Americans to Cuba are based on legislation granting the President statutory authority to regulate spending by persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction in a foreign country during a national emergency or time of war.  Cuba is the only country in the world to which the United States government bans travel by its citizens.

See  U.S.-Cuba Policy in the 111th Congress (PDF)