Obama eases Cuba policy to mixed reaction in NJ

The Obama administration?s easing of U.S. policy toward Cuba sent many Cuban-Americans to the travel agent, but New Jersey?s lawmakers of Cuban descent are voicing some opposition to the change. President

News 12 Staff

Apr 14, 2009, 6:19 PM

Updated 5,673 days ago

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The Obama administration?s easing of U.S. policy toward Cuba sent many Cuban-Americans to the travel agent, but New Jersey?s lawmakers of Cuban descent are voicing some opposition to the change.
President Barack Obama announced Monday that he?s lifting travel restrictions for Americans who have family members in Cuba. They have to show that they have a family member in Cuba and are at least a third-generation Cuban in order to travel to the country. Also, Cuban-Americans can now send unlimited amounts of money to family members in Cuba.
Sen. Robert Menendez and Rep. Albio Sires, both of Cuban descent, say they?re uneasy about certain aspects of the policy change. Menendez says he?s fine with family members being allowed to visit, but doesn?t think Cuban-Americans should be able to send unlimited funds to the island nation. Sires says the Obama administration should have pushed the communist regime harder to release political prisoners and demanded other civil rights concessions.
Meanwhile, agents at Caribe Express travel agency in Elizabeth say they?ve been busy booking flights to Cuba and processing passports. They say they?re booking 10 to 15 flights there a day.
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