US takes swipe at Cuban medical missions

The US State Department said, 25 February, that it is expanding an ‘existing Cuba-related visa restriction policy that targets forced labor linked to the Cuban labor export program.’

It said that the policy applies to ‘current or former Cuban government officials, and other individuals, including foreign government officials, who are believed to be responsible for, or involved in, the Cuban labor export program, particularly Cuba’s overseas medical missions.’

The State Department said the policy also applies to the immediate family of such persons. ‘The Department has already taken steps to impose visa restrictions on several individuals, including Venezuelans, under this expanded policy,’ it said, adding,

‘Cuba continues to profit from the forced labor of its workers and the regime’s abusive and coercive labor practices are well documented. Cuba’s labor export programs, which include the medical missions, enrich the Cuban regime, and in the case of Cuba’s overseas medical missions, deprive ordinary Cubans of the medical care they desperately need in their home country.’

https://www.state.gov/expansion-of-visa-restrictions-policy-for-individuals-exploiting-cuban-labor