Policy & Advocacy
Backgrounder on Cuba, January 2018
Backgrounder on Cuba, January 2018
- The Raul Castro government implemented reforms expanding property rights, small business operations, and access to credit.
- Religious leaders, especially the Catholic Church, made cautious progress engaging society and dialoguing with the government despite limits.
- Pope Francis visited Cuba in September 2015 as a sign of pastoral support.
- The government restricts the Church’s freedom in education, mass communications, and receiving pastoral agents from abroad.
- Despite constraints, the Church runs numerous social-assistance projects that serve sick, elderly, and disabled people and continues pastoral ministry.
U.S.-Cuba Rapprochement under Obama
- The United States lifted many travel restrictions, allowed expanded charter flights, and reestablished diplomatic relations with Cuba in 2014.
- The U.S. removed Cuba from the state sponsors of terrorism list and President Obama visited Cuba in March 2016.
- In January 2017 the U.S. ended the “wet foot, dry foot” policy that had allowed Cubans who reached U.S. soil to remain.
Trump Administration Policy Shift
- President Trump issued a June 2017 memorandum narrowing engagement to prevent economic practices that disproportionately benefit the Cuban government or military.
- The policy tightened travel parameters and aimed to limit economic benefits to state security entities while exempting many U.S. businesses already operating in Cuba.
- USCCB and Cuban bishops expressed disappointment because the measures reduce cultural and commercial exchange.
USCCB Position
- USCCB supports engagement and trade as the best means to strengthen human rights and civil society in Cuba.
- USCCB and Cuban bishops oppose government crackdowns on peaceful dissent, routine human rights violations, and restrictions on religious freedom.
- USCCB has provided visits and resources to support the Church in Cuba and calls for greater dialogue between the two peoples.
- The Church in Cuba and most dissidents oppose the U.S. embargo, which USCCB says strengthens government control and harms vulnerable people.
Action Requested
- USCCB urges Congress to end all travel limitations for Americans visiting Cuba and to foster greater trade with the island.
- USCCB opposes reinstating pre-Obama travel and trade restrictions and supports an eventual complete end to the economic embargo.
- USCCB affirms that improving Cuban lives and advancing democracy and human rights will be best achieved through increased contact and engagement.