oday, the President welcomed the veterans of the Bay of Pigs Brigade 2506 at the White House. He honored these courageous veterans and their families in his remarks (VIDEO). In addition to paying tribute to their commitment to democracy and freedom, he recognized the many contributions of our Hispanic community to the nation and announced the U.S. Treasury Department amended regulations to restrict revenue sources to the Cuban regime. Below are photos from the event, a tweet from the National Security Council, and a STATEMENT from the U.S. Treasury Department. If you or your organization put out a message about today’s events, please send us the links to those social media posts.
Treasury Amends Regulations to Restrict Revenue Sources to the Cuban Regime
WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) amended the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR) to further implement the President’s foreign policy to deny the Cuban regime sources of revenue. The changes restrict lodging at certain properties in Cuba; importing Cuban-origin alcohol and tobacco products; attending or organizing professional meetings or conferences in Cuba; and participating in and organizing certain public performances, clinics, workshops, competitions, and exhibitions in Cuba. These regulatory amendments will become effective upon publication in the Federal Register.
“The Cuban regime has been redirecting revenue from authorized U.S. travel for its own benefit, often at the expense of the Cuban people,” said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. “This Administration is committed to denying Cuba’s oppressive regime access to revenues used to fund their malign activities, both at home and abroad.”
For the latest changes to the CACR, which can be found at 31 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 515, see here. Major elements of the changes in the revised Treasury regulations include:
CUBA PROHIBITED ACCOMMODATIONS LIST
OFAC is incorporating a new provision into the CACR that prohibits any person subject to U.S. jurisdiction from lodging, paying for lodging, or making any reservation for or on behalf of a third party to lodge at any property that the Secretary of State has identified as owned or controlled by the Cuban government, a prohibited official of the Government of Cuba, a prohibited member of the Cuban Communist Party, a close relative of a prohibited official of the Government of Cuba, or a close relative of a prohibited member of the Cuban Communist Party.
Concurrent with this change, the State Department is creating a new list, the Cuba Prohibited Accommodations List, to identify the names, addresses, or other identifying details, as relevant, of properties subject to this prohibition.
CUBAN-ORIGIN ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO
OFAC is amending the CACR to exclude the importation into the United States of Cuban-origin alcohol and tobacco products from several general authorizations. Previously, the importation of Cuban-origin alcohol and tobacco products as accompanied baggage was authorized for non-commercial use under certain circumstances.
PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES
OFAC is eliminating the general authorization related to attendance at, or organization of, professional meetings or conferences in Cuba. These activities may be authorized via specific license on a case-by-case basis to the extent not authorized under other travel-related authorizations.
PUBLIC PERFORMANCES, CLINICS, WORKSHOPS, COMPETITIONS, AND EXHIBITIONS
OFAC is eliminating the general authorization related to public performances, clinics, workshops, other athletic or non-athletic competitions, and exhibitions. These activities may be authorized via specific license on a case-by-case basis. As a result of this amendment, the only remaining general license for participation in and organization of athletic competitions in Cuba will be the general license for athletic competitions by amateur or semi-professional athletes or athletic teams.
View more information on Cuba sanctions.
Who needs to be invited to our next call? If you know of other Hispanic leaders that would benefit from call like these, please let me know.
Best,
Andrea R. Ramirez, Ph.D.
Special Assistant to the President and Director of Hispanic Engagement
White House Office of Public Liaison