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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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Obama to OK Family Visits to Cuba

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(Newser) – President Obama is close to letting Cuban-Americans travel freely to Cuba and send unlimited funds to families there, the Wall Street Journal reports. Amid growing pressure from Democrats in Congress, Obama plans to fulfill a campaign promise and loosen current restrictions, which allow Cuban-Americans to visit family once a year and send up to $300 to each household in Cuba receiving money.

"It's time to let Cuban-Americans see their mothers and their fathers, their sisters and their brothers," Obama said on the campaign trail last May. "It's time to let Cuban-American money make their families less dependent on the Castro regime." But Obama is not planning to lift America's trade embargo on Cuba or reach out diplomatically. Experts speculate that Obama will loosen restrictions before the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago this month.

Cuba's President Raul Castro, center, talks with Cuban officials at a ceremony to commemorate the ICAI's 50th anniversary in Havana, Tuesday, March 24, 2009.
Cuba's President Raul Castro, center, talks with Cuban officials at a ceremony to commemorate the ICAI's 50th anniversary in Havana, Tuesday, March 24, 2009.   (AP Photo/Ismael Francisco, Prensa Latina)
President Barack Obama smiles during a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, not shown, Friday, April 3, 2009, at city hall in Baden-Baden, Germany.
President Barack Obama smiles during a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, not shown, Friday, April 3, 2009, at city hall in Baden-Baden, Germany.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
President Barack Obama answers reporters' questions, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel,not shown, Friday, April 3, 2009, at city hall in Baden-Baden, Germany.
President Barack Obama answers reporters' questions, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel,not shown, Friday, April 3, 2009, at city hall in Baden-Baden, Germany.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
U.S. President Barack Obama talks to media during a news conference after bilateral talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on April 3, 2009 in Baden Baden, Germany.
U.S. President Barack Obama talks to media during a news conference after bilateral talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on April 3, 2009 in Baden Baden, Germany.   (Getty Images)
President Barack Obama gestures as he gives a briefing to reporters at the end of the G20 summit on April 2, 2009 in London.
President Barack Obama gestures as he gives a briefing to reporters at the end of the G20 summit on April 2, 2009 in London.   (Getty Images)
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6 comments
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Newser001
Apr 3, 09 8:45 PM CDT
I want to visit Cuba, but I'm not of Cuban ancestry... We need to end this BS. We have relations with France, Mexico, and the UK, do we not? Reply
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Snarfeh
Apr 3, 09 10:20 PM CDT
I must admit I don't know enough of our history with Cuba other than about the Bay of PIgs incident, but I do know we wheel and deal with China, a communist country that is guilty of human rights violations, so why not Cuba? Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
Caps
Apr 4, 09 9:41 AM CDT
Snarfeh, your comment is so correct. Why not Cuba. Seems to me to be a double standard here.
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TerrifiedCitizen
Apr 3, 09 11:15 PM CDT
Yeah... Castro had his brief affair with Russia and tried to take over the world, but that was long ago. It doesn't appear that we have any more to fear from this little island off our coast. And if Raul gets any ideas, it's an easy enough thing to replace sanctions. It's almost like there's something else involved in this long-standing feud... we've certainly forgiven Russia for much more. Reply
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Robert_Dada
Apr 4, 09 9:55 AM CDT
Yes, it's time we mend relations. Reply
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