US Congress Members Demand Removal of Privileges to Cuban Immigrants

US Congress member Blake Farenthold (Republican) and Henry Cuéllar (Democratic), both from Texas, presented a proposal today to put an end to the exclusive benefits that US migration laws grant Cubans.

Under the Cuban Adjustment Act, approved by Congress on 1966, and the dry feet/wet feet policy established by the Clinton Administration (1993-2001), Cuban migrants are given permanent residence a year after arriving in US territory as well as other privileges.

The two legislators said in a statement that due to the existence of these legal provisions, the number of Cubans that entered US territory in the past few months through Texas has increased 60 percent.

“Now that President Barack Obama has resumed diplomatic relations with Cuba, this preferential treatment to Cubans makes no sense anymore,” said Farenthold.

Cuellar reiterated his support for a comprehensive immigration policy that takes into account the more than 11 million illegal immigrants living in the United States, but while this objective is attained, “we must not grant selective benefits to a group of persons because of their national origin.”

Obama visited Havana between March 20th-22nd, when he met with Cuban President Raul Castro and had the chance to directly speak to broad sectors of the Cuban society.

The Cuban government believes that the Cuban Adjustment Act and the dry feet/wet feet policy must be abolished because they constitute major incentives to illegal immigration.

(Prensa Latina)

¿Obama “el bueno”?

Por Darío Machado Rodríguez

Como muchos, he estado siguiendo la visita de Barack Obama a nuestro país, experimentando sentimientos encontrados: de un lado el sano orgullo patriótico y revolucionario de ver un presidente norteamericano rectificando la política hacia Cuba y repitiendo en nuestro propio suelo que hay que terminar con el bloqueo, lo que ratifica el respeto a nuestra soberanía e independencia, esas que nos hemos ganado los cubanos con nuestro sacrificio, nuestro sudor, nuestra sangre, nuestra historia y, de otro, el peligro que significa que haya quienes piensen que con estos, por ahora tibios cambios, ha desaparecido la contradicción entre los intereses del imperialismo norteamericano y los de la nación cubana. Pero solo hoy, luego de escuchar su discurso en esta mañana de lunes, me he decidido a escribir estas líneas, porque -como alertó hace más de medio siglo Fidel-, en lo adelante todo será más difícil.

Read more:

https://lapupilainsomne.wordpress.com/2016/03/22/obama-el-bueno-por-dario-machado-rodriguez/

¿Obama en el Gran Teatro o el gran teatro de Obama en La Habana?

Cuba, América Latina y el mundo escucharon con gran expectativa a Barack Obama este 22 de marzo desde el Gran Teatro de La Habana, con un discurso conciliador, inteligente y seductor. No era la primera vez en que durante su visita usaba ampliamente de la palabra y se dirigía a los cubanos a través de la televisión nacional, pero sí la única en que el Presidente de los Estados Unidos no compartiría con nadie el escenario y tendría todo el espacio para sí desde que dos días antes arribó a esta Isla.

Como corresponde a la cultura política que representa, y ha venido ocurriendo desde que puso un pie en La Habana, otra vez nada fue dejado a la casualidad, y para más precisión, los teleprompters traídos desde Washington, ¿los mismos que utilizó en la grabación de su diálogo con el cómico más popular de Cuba? lo escoltaban a cada lado del escenario con un discurso cuidadosamente escrito.

Para un espectador atento de la platea, eran perfectamente reconocibles un par de personas —situadas dentro del grupo de 40 congresistas que viajaron desde EE.UU. para la ocasión— en cada momento en que la palabra del orador debía ser respondida con palmas. Ese grupo de legisladores, y la delegación estadounidense que acompañó al Presidente en su visita, fueron los únicos que aplaudieron las numerosas veces en que su intervención tomó el camino de los consejos paternalistas, o peor aún, el de la injerencia más o menos disimulada.

Read more:

http://www.juventudrebelde.cu/cuba/2016-03-23/obama-en-el-gran-teatro-o-el-gran-teatro-de-obama-en-la-habana/

Michelle Obama learns about Cuban education system

US First Lady Michelle Obama had a meeting this Monday morning with 10 young Cuban students where she learnt about educational experiences in Cuba, as part of the official visit to Cuba of President Barack Obama.

Two female students of the Saul Delgado senior high school, and others from the University of Havana, and the Higher Institute of Arts, answered questions raised by the First Lady.

The meeting was held at the Factory of Cuban Art cultural complex in the neighborhood of Vedado, in the center of the city, coinciding with the first anniversary of Miss Obama´s Let Girls Learn initiative that aims at bringing education to over 60 million girls from all over the world.
This campaign seeks to provide education to girls that cannot otherwise have access to education due to cultural, religious or race barriers. That initiative is something Cuba already implemented years ago, where all girls go to school free of charge without any regard to race, place of living, handicap or even if they are hospitalized.

Michelle spoke on the importance she gives education of girls and learnt about what Cuba has achieved on this regard, where the state, since the triumph of the Revolution guaranteed them full access to every aspect of life.

The young ladies told them about their experiences and their possibilities, while the First Lady wanted to know more artistic education since early ages.

(Cuban News Agency)

Raúl Castro and Barack Obama Hold Official Talks in Cuba

The President of Cuba, Raúl Castro; and of the United States, Barack Obama hold official talks in Havana in the context of the USA President”s visit to the island.

The Cuban head of State, received his counterpart in the Palace of the Revolution, where both leaders greeted members of their respective delegations.

During the reception, which was broadcast live on national television, Obama also greeted the band leader responsible for the music at the reception ceremony.

At the end of the meeting, the two heads of state will make statements to the press.

Read more:

http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4716821&Itemid=1

Obama pays homage to Cuban National Hero

US President Barack Obama paid homage to the Cuban National Hero, Jose Marti, this morning accompanied by the Cuban Vice-President Salvador Valdes Mesa.

As part of his official visit to Cuba, Obama laid a floral wreath at the base of the monument of Marti, at the Havana´s Revolution Square.

After the ceremony, the US President broke the protocol and had his picture taken with the images of Commanders Ernesto Che Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos, displayed on two building across the square, on his back.

Along his delegation, Obama toured the Jose Marti Memorial, a site that tells the history of the Cuban Hero, inaugurated by Cuban Revolution leader Fidel Castro on January 27, 1996, before heading for the official welcome ceremony at the Revolution Palace, where he will meet with President Raul Castro.

(Cuban News Agency)

The meaning of Obama’s visit to Cuba

As the moment nears, expectations grow for President Barack Obama’s impending visit to Cuba.

So far, the news have focused on the president’s likely activities, this past week’s announcement of new measures to relax the United States’ economic blockade, and the political stances of both governments regarding the event, issued through statements by functionaries or — in the case of Cuba — through editorials in Granma, the official newspaper of the Communist Party of Cuba.

From my point of view, beyond the temporal or anecdotal statements, the importance of this visit lies in the possibility of establishing a precedent regarding the political patterns of what constitutes a unique moment in the history of relations between the two countries.

Read more:

http://progresoweekly.us/the-meaning-of-obamas-visit-to-cuba/

Cuba plans to lift penalty on changing dollars

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez says the country will do away with a 10 percent penalty on dollars exchanged at banks and money-exchange centers in Cuba if new U.S. measures allowing Cuba access to the international banking system prove to work.

The measure would make it much easier for U.S. visitors to Cuba to change dollars during their trip.

Rodriguez told reporters Thursday that Cuba will try to make a series of international financial transactions in coming days. If they work, it will get rid of the 10 percent penalty.

(Associated Press)

Cuban FM Announces Obama Visit Agenda

The agenda for the visit to be paid by US President Barack Obama on March 20-22 will include official talks, a tour of Old Havana and an address to the civil society, announced Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez.

During a press conference from the Tryp Habana Libre hotel, where the press room for Obama’s visit will operate, Rodriguez said that during his stay, the US president will have the chance to know the Island better and interact with the people and their organizations.

Next Sunday, he will tour Old Havana and visit the Havana Cathedral.

On Monday, he will hold official talks with his counterpart Raul Castro, and they will give a joint press conference.

Also on March 21, President Obama will pay tribute to Cuban National Hero Jose Marti, a figure that embodies the Cuban people’s feelings, he announced.

A business event to be attended by representatives of the twonations will also be held on Monday.

On March 22, on the last day of his visit, President Obama will meet with the Cuban people and the civil society at the Alicia Alonso Grand Teater of Havanam where he will give a speech that will be broadcast live nationwide.

According to Rodriguez, Obama will be able to see a nation devoted to its economic and social development and with the guarantee of the full dignity of its citizens, which can boast gains that are illusion for many inhabitants of the planet.

He added that the visit will be a bright opportunity to identify new steps to be taken in the next few months as a contribution to the process to improve the bilateral relations.

(Prensa Latina)

The blockade continues intact, assures Bruno Rodríguez

On March 15, the Departments of the Treasury and of Commerce issued new regulations that modify the implementation of some aspects of the US blockade against Cuba.

This is the fourth announcement of this sort made by the Government of the United States since December 17, 2014, when the presidents of both countries made public their decision to re-establish diplomatic relations.

We are currently analyzing their scope and practical effects in order to confirm their feasibility.

After a preliminary consideration of these measures, it can be affirmed that they are positive.

Some of them expand the scope of those which had been adopted before; so is the case for the one authorizing now individual “people-to-people” educational travels. However, it should be recalled that the legal prohibition that prevents US citizens from freely traveling to Cuba is still in force. This prohibition should be lifted by the US Congress.

Read more:

http://en.granma.cu/cuba/2016-03-17/the-blockade-continues-intact-assures-bruno-rodriguez