So Here's the Scoop on That Expanded US Visa Policy
U.S. Intensifies Financial Penalties focusing on Medical Services in Cuba and Venezuela
In a major shake-up, the US State Department, under the guidance of Secretary of State Marco Rubio (yeah, the guy's got some Cuba beef), has beefed up its visa restrictions on both Cuba and Venezuela - targeting their overseas medical missions. All in the name of combatting what they call "forced labor."
Rubio, who's no stranger to this quarrel being the son of Cuban immigrants pre-1959 Revolution, came out swinging, describing Cuba's medical missions worldwide as abusive and coercive. For decades, Havana's been helping out countries with healthcare, mostly in underserved communities across the Global South. The backlash was swift.
Cuba's President Miguel Díaz-Canel was like, "Hey, USA, explain to your people and the world how attacking Cuban medical services, you know, the ones keeping millions healthy in various countries, helps your own situation."
The expanded visa policy is going to affect current or ex-Cuban government officials involved with the medical brigade program and extends to foreign government officials associated with it. That means it might bite a bunch of international leaders, including Venezuelans mentioned explicitly in the statement.
More than 30k Cuban docs were working in Venezuela since 2000 - primarily helping out in low-income barrios. Cuba's support was crucial during the Covid-19 pandemic too, providing vaccines when Caracas struggled due to sanctions.
Cuba's medical initiative hassent over 600k doctors worldwide, mainly to Global South countries but also some wealthy nations in need after disasters.
Rubio's been after this since he was senator in Florida. In 2020, he teamed up with a former Senator and convicted felon (yes, you read that right), Bob Menendez, to draft legislation against this program.
This move is just the latest example of Rubio's hardline policies towards allied nations in Latin America.
P.S. - Caribbean leaders have backed Cuba, emphasizing the importance of these missions. Some are even willing to forego US visas in solidarity with Cuba.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with a history rooted in Cuban heritage, has implemented stricter visa restrictions on Cuba, including medical missions, citing forced labor as the rationale.
- The revised visa policy could potentially impact current or former Cuban government officials involved with the medical brigade program, as well as foreign officials associated with it, possibly implicating international leaders like those from Venezuela.
- Cuban medical personnel have been providing crucial healthcare support in numerous countries for decades, including in underserved communities of the Global South and during the Covid-19 pandemic in Venezuela, where they have treated over 30,000 doctors since 2000.
- Cuba's medical initiative has dispatched over 600,000 doctors worldwide, helping countries in the Global South and even some wealthy nations after disasters.
- Rubio's hardline policies against Cuba have been a consistent theme throughout his political career, with efforts such as the drafting of legislations, like his collaboration with former Senator and convicted felon Bob Menendez in 2020, aimed at combating this medical program.
