Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • My Term Papers • Get Free Essays • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - Political Science Cuban and US Relations Cuban and US Relations When discussing the economic effect of U.S. Immigration policy on Cuba, it is necessary to look into the United States policy towards Cuba. Since the 1960's the United States has continued its policy of isolating Cuba both politically and economically. The objective of this isolation is to ensure that the basic human rights of the Cuban citizens are respected and that some democratic reforms are enacted. The United States took a number of measures too ensure their intentions. In October 1992, the Cuban Democracy Act was enacted. The principle tool of the United States policy was the trade embargo, which was made stronger by the Cuban Democracy Act. The CDA prohibits U.S. subsidiaries from engaging in trade with Cuba. This act prohibits entry of any vessel into the United States to load or unload if it has engaged in trade with Cuba within the last 180 days. The Cuban Democracy Act also included support for the Cuban people. Because of the CDA the phone service between Cuba and the United States was improved. According to the administration of the CDA, the two-track policy of isolating Cuba, but reaching out to its people meets both the U.S. strategic and human rights interests. In 1995 the president made the CDA stronger. He announced a measure to limit the ability of the Cuban government to accumulate foreign exchange. Previously, U.S. citizens could provide up to $300 quarterly to their Cuban relatives. It is estimated that this amounted to as much as $400 to $500 million annually for the Cuban economy. A second measure dealt with travel between Havana and Miami. Travel now had to be consistent with the CDA and could only accommodate legal migrants. On February 24, 1996, Cuban fighter jets shot down American planes in the Florida straits. The planes were flown by the Cuban American group, Brothers to the Rescue. The group was known primarily for its humanitarian missions of spotting Cuban refugees trying to escape Cuba by raft. The four crewmen were killed. Cuban spokesman claimed that the plains were shot down within Cuban airspace, and the pilots were repeatedly warned. The United States was told that the incident occurred over international waters. The United States claimed that this act was a blatant violation of international law. They called upon the United Nations Security Council to impose the proper sanctions. The U.S. also called upon the International Civil Aviation Organization to investigate the incident. The ICAO concluded that the two planes were shot down over international waters. The President, in turn, suspended all charter flights to Cuba indefinitely. He imposed additional travel restrictions on Cuban diplomats in the U.S., and limited visits by Cuban officials to the United States. Cuba's downing of the American planes resulted in the efforts of Congress to secure passage of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act. On March 12, 1996 President Clinton signed into law the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act, otherwise known as the Libertad Act, or Helmes Burton Act. The Libertad Act has four main points. Title one of the Libertad Act tightens enforcement of the U.S. embargo, no presidential waiver is provided for any of these codified embargo provisions. Title two deals solely with the U.S. policy towards a democratic government in Cuba. Title three creates a cause of Action and authorizes U.S. nationals with claims to confiscated properties in Cuba to file suit in U.S. courts against people trafficking in such property. Title four denies admission to the United States to aliens involved in the confiscation of U.S. property in Cuba, or in the trafficking of confiscated U.S. property in Cuba. This provision is mandatory, and is waivable in the case of travel to the United States for humanitarian medical reasons. Although United States policy makers generally agree on the overall objective of the U.S. policy towards Cuba, to help bring in democracy and respect for human rights to the people, there have been many different schools of thought on how to achieve this outcome. The most comprehensive legislation, the one that is in place, is the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act, because it found a way to encompass the two schools of thought. That is as long as Cuba went in the intended direction, which is away from Communism. Bibliography: Word Count: 714
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