Rick Scott – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by lev radin
Sen. Rick Scott of Florida is urging more stringent penalties against the Cuban regime, including a reintroduction of flight bans to the island.
The Republican senator contends that American visits to Cuba support regime persecution and provide financial advantages to the Cuban military.
Scott explained his plan and its possible effects on Cuban Americans who routinely travel to see relatives in an exclusive interview with CBS News Miami.
Scott: Cuban repression of travel funds
According to Scott, the dictatorial government in Cuba is eventually strengthened by the money that Cuban Americans spend there.
“When people travel to Cuba, those close to the government – mainly the military – benefit from it,” said Scott. “The funds are used to repress those who oppose the government.”
However, several Cuban Americans are concerned that more travel restrictions would just make life more difficult for their family members on the island.
“It wouldn’t be the best for a lot of people,” stated Orestes Pedraza, whose spouse resides in Cuba. When he spoke to CBS News Miami, he was at Miami International Airport on his way to Havana. “I don’t want anything bad to happen to our families in Cuba.”
Targets of legislation Cuban government representatives
Scott recently filed the Democracy Act, a bill that would bar visas and seize assets for important Cuban government sectors, especially the military.
“All their problems in Latin America start with the Cuban regime,” stated Scott. “If you get rid of the Castro regime, it helps us get rid of [Venezuela’s Nicolás] Maduro and [Nicaragua’s Daniel] Ortega.”
The Assembly of Cuban Resistance’s Orlando Gutierrez is in favor of Scott’s strategy.
“These sanctions strike at an elite government that claims to be socialist but is actually an oligarchy that feeds off the Cuban people,” Gutierrez stated.
Scott said he was confident the bill will pass.
“I’m very optimistic that we’re going to get it passed this time,” he stated.
Travel restrictions being renewed?
Travel restrictions to Cuba have historically been tightened by Republican administrations.
The United States prohibited flights to eight Cuban localities outside of Havana in 2019 and 2020 under President Donald Trump.
Scott stated that he would be in favor of reintroducing those policies or taking them even farther.
“I don’t think we should have any travel to Cuba,” stated Scott. “Relocate back to Cuba if that is your desire. However, it serves the regime’s oppression of the Cuban people rather than their own.
While acknowledging the personal pain that such restrictions would cause, some Cuban Americans claim to appreciate the logic.
Joelkis Estrada said, “It’s true that we will be affected because we have family there,” when she and her husband arrived in Havana to meet her father-in-law, who was in critical condition. “But at the same time, I understand that the U.S. needs to pressure the Cuban government.”
In order to see travel restrictions restored by the end of the year, Rick Scott claimed that he is aggressively advocating for their reinstatement.
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Born and raised in South Florida, Krystal is a recent graduate from the University of Miami with professional writing experience at the collegiate and national news outlet levels. She’s a foodie who loves all things travel, the beach, & visiting new places throughout Florida.