Date: Oct 28, 2019
Washington, D.C.–The Center for Democracy in the Americas, Cuba Study Group, Engage Cuba, LAWG, OXFAM, and WOLA denounce the announced halt to commercial airline service to cities outside of Havana and call on Congress to pass the Freedom for Americans to Travel to Cuba Act of 2019.
Linda Delgado, Director of Government Affairs of Oxfam America, says, “This administration is blind to the impact of its cruel policies. It’s sickening to be witness to another heartless and counterproductive act that will do nothing but hurt families and good people. We urge Congress to expedite passage of the travel bill.”
James Williams, President of Engage Cuba, says, “This backroom move at 5pm on a Friday is a weak and needlessly cruel blow to Cuban families. How are Cuban-Americans supposed to visit to see their loved ones if there are no flights to most of the country? We understand that the politicians making this policy have likely never been to Cuba, but even they should be able to look up that the vast majority of Cubans don’t live in Havana. It’s another sad day for the Cuban people who are being deported at record numbers, denied political asylum and now can’t visit their families.”
Ricardo Herrero, Executive Director of Cuba Study Group, says, “Suspending flight routes from the United States to all Cuban destinations outside of Havana is an inhumane policy that will cause great harm to Cuban families and American travelers. Announcing it at 5:00 pm on a Friday means that Trump administration officials are fully aware of this fact. Ending these commercial flights will compound the hardships already faced by Cubans who don’t live in the capital city. Furthermore, this feckless policy will not advance any discernible national security interest of the United States. It will not persuade the Cuban government to end its support for Nicolas Maduro and will further undermine America’s ability to credibly champion human rights in the region. We call on President Trump to immediately reverse this misguided policy. If the calculus behind today’s announcement is that it will help shore up Cuban-American support for the president’s re-election campaign, he would be well-advised to think again.”
Emily Mendrala, Executive Director of the Center for Democracy in the Americas, says, “This administration’s obsession with Cuba strikes another blow to the interests of the American and Cuban people alike. Think of some of the collateral damage done by today’s move: Cuban Americans adding hours – possibly days – to their travel time to see family; private businesses and entrepreneurs losing important streams of revenue; students, scientists, and researchers facing undue hurdles to travel to cities outside of Havana; and uncertain economic consequences that will come with confining U.S. travelers to Cuba’s capital city. This arbitrary move seems more intent on scoring political wins and reversing the Obama legacy than achieving any foreign policy goals.”
The Freedom for Americans to Travel to Cuba Act of 2019, introduced by Senator Leahy in the Senate (S.2303) and Representatives McGovern and Emmer in the House (H.R.3960), would allow United States citizens and legal residents to travel between the United States and Cuba.
