Lawmakers call U.S. wrong to push eviction of Cubans

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Wed, Feb. 22, 2006
U.S. POLICY
Lawmakers call U.S. wrong to push eviction of Cubans
Twenty-five U.S. lawmakers criticized the government for pushing a hotel in Mexico City to evict a Cuban delegation.

BY PABLO BACHELET
[e-mail]

WASHINGTON - A group of 25 lawmakers on Tuesday sent a letter to the Treasury Department criticizing an order to evict a Cuban delegation from a U.S.-owned hotel in Mexico as a potential ``overreaching application of U.S. law that could have significant worldwide implications.''

The bipartisan congressional letter was the latest fallout from a Feb. 3 decision by the Sheraton María Isabel hotel in Mexico City to evict 16 Cubans attending an energy conference with U.S. executives, following a warning by the Treasury Department that it might be violating U.S. laws.

The incident angered many Mexicans who considered it an undue extension of U.S. law into their country and spurred investigations by both the city and federal authorities. A Mexico City judge ruled Tuesday that the hotel could stay open pending a decision on the hotel's request for an injunction to block charges it violated city codes.

The congressional letter said the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control may be setting a dangerous new precedent.
(snip)

The letter was signed by members of Congress usually critical of U.S. policy toward Cuba, including Reps. Howard Berman, D-Calif.; Jeff Flake, R-Ariz.; Jim Kolbe, R-Ariz.; Jo Ann Emerson, R-Mo., and William Delahunt, D-Mass..
(snip/...)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/world/cuba/13929227.htm

[formerrepuke]

1. So, can Cubans visiting Mexico shop at the Wal-Marts there?

...The Treasury Department must surely have better things to do.

[Judi Lynn]

2. There are already FBI people hovering in Canadian airports, studying

passenger lists to spot Americans coming in to Canada from Cuba. I've heard Canadian airport personel REALLY don't like having them breath down their necks.

What you've suggested WOULD apply, if they only had the manpower to enforce it.

[formerrepuke]

3. What a waste of FBI resources and labor. Has this been going on

for a long time, or just in the last 5-6 years?

[Judi Lynn]

4. I'm not too sure. I just started paying attention to Cuban matters after

Elián Gonzalez was held hostage by his distant relatives in Miami.

I have read, however, Jimmy Carter seriously relaxed the travel ban to Cuba during his Presidency, which was immediately tightened with gusto by Ronald Reagan.

It was happening a bit before _Bush was "elected," but NOTHING like the current situation.

It's an absolute waste trying to criminalize American travel to Cuba, and to actually have American agents haunting foreign airports trying to catch Americans in the act of committing the terrifying vacation in Cuuuubaaaa.

[Mika]

5. OFAC has more officers checking travel to Cuba than following terra-ists

That story has been posted several times on DU since 9-11.



As Terrorists Plot, Uncle Sam Pays to Halt Cuban Cigars; Security resources are being wasted on the embargo and travel ban. Los Angeles Times May 19, 2004

[cantstandbush]

6. Oh my, Cuba is a threat to our national security...don't forget.

The Bush administration is the most hateful administration in my lifetime. (60 yrs)