Representative Carlos Gimenez of Florida has called on the Trump administration to completely halt all remittances and travel between the United States and Cuba, with the exception of limited humanitarian exemptions approved on a case-by-case basis by the State Department.
The request, made in an official communication this week, revives and builds upon measures previously implemented during former President Donald Trump’s first term. Those included sanctions targeting the Cuban government’s access to foreign currency and a ban on U.S.-based cruise travel to the island. One of Trump’s first actions in his new term was to return Cuba to the sponsor of terrorism list.
Gimenez, a Cuban-American lawmaker and outspoken critic of Havana’s Communist government, argues that the flow of U.S. dollars through travel and remittances only strengthens the Cuban state, which he accuses of widespread repression and human rights violations.
“The murderous dictatorship in Havana poses a significant threat to the safety and wellbeing of the United States and our citizens,” Gimenez said in a statement. “The brutal regime in Cuba is facing more internal pressure than ever before and America must stand with the brave Cuban people by eliminating the dictatorship’s access to any hard currency and resources used to further repress them.”
Recent reports from the island have highlighted increased power outages. However, experts argus that restrictions on travel and remittances can disproportionately impact ordinary Cubans who rely on financial support from family members abroad.
Cuba, which has faced decades of U.S. economic sanctions, maintains that such policies are part of a broader effort to undermine its sovereignty and economy. The Cuban government has historically denied allegations of systemic repression and has blamed many of its economic challenges on the U.S. embargo.
Gimenez’s proposal comes at a time of heightened debate in Washington over the future of U.S.-Cuba relations, with some lawmakers pushing for renewed isolation and others advocating for a return to engagement policies pursued during the Obama administration.
The Trump administration has not yet commented on the congressman’s request.
