U.S. Embargo Walls Us In

On June 30, the Bush administration imposed new regulations sharply curtailing already-limited travel to Cuba. A New York Times article published on June 24 characterized the regulations as "part of a broader plan that President Bush announced last month to be tougher on President Fidel Castro and speed a transition to democracy in Cuba. Democrats and even some Republicans say the election-year crackdown is a nakedly political move to bolster Mr. Bush's support among Cuban Americans in southern Florida, a crucial segment of his base in this swing state." The sweeping measures nonetheless brought sharp criticisms from Cuban Americans, because the regulations severely limit their ability to visit relatives on the island. The regulations will also greatly reduce academic travel to Cuba, eliminating most university-and all high-school-based exchange programs. The U.S. Treasury Department reports that, in recent years, it has issued more than 750 educational licenses to universities, colleges, and high schools, allowing students, faculty members, and administrators to travel to the otherwise-forbidden island for structured educational programs or to arrange such programs. Under the new regulations, such licenses, previously issued for two years, will now be for only one year. More important, they can be used only for semester-long study programs. Specific licenses will be needed for programs shorter than ten weeks.