Of the myriad sanctions imposed by the U.S. on Cuba for almost 50 years, few are as cruel, vindictive and un-American as those that sharply limit Cuban-Americans from visiting their relatives on the island. Last month the U.S. House voted to uphold those sanctions, even after a year's worth of evidence of the hardship they have caused to Cubans on both sides of the Florida Straits.

The rules, issued by the Treasury Department, went into effect a year ago. They prohibit anyone residing in the U.S. from visiting relatives on the island. But the targets obviously are Cuban-Americans in the U.S., be they permanent residents or naturalized American citizens. Now they can visit Cuba only if they have immediate relatives--parents, siblings or children--there and for only 14 days, once every three years. Those who only have uncles, aunts, cousins or more distant relatives cannot visit at all.

Prior to the changes a year ago, Americans could visit their relatives--defined to include even second cousins--once a year, or more often in cases of emergency. There was no limit to the duration of the first visit and travelers could spend up to $167 a day for living expenses. They also could bring in up to $3,000 for their families.

The new rules have led to tragic situations. One case: A Cuban-American veteran of the Iraq war wanted to visit a sick teenage son in Cuba, whom he had last seen in 2003. Permission was denied; only one visit is allowed every three years, even for family emergencies.

Even those who can visit can spend only $50 a day, bring 44 pounds of luggage and no more than $300 in cash. People in the U.S. can send a strictly limited amount of supplies yearly to Cuba. Soap, clothing, seeds and fishing poles are banned, but food and medicine are OK. (Batteries and radios are permitted, presumably so Cubans can tune in Radio Marti's anti-Castro broadcasts from Miami.)

The restrictions remain in place even after Hurricane Dennis caused tremendous damage in Cuba and anguish among Cuban-Americans in the U.S. who want to help relatives or friends back home. The U.S. government offered $50,000 in aid, which Cuba refused.

A spokeswoman for Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), one of four Cuban-American members of the U.S. House, said it is still possible to send aid to hurricane victims through non-governmental organizations licensed by the U.S., but the present crisis does not affect the regulations imposed last year.

Those regulations followed the publication of a 500-page study of U.S. policy toward Cuba commissioned last year by the Bush administration. The report, and the additional sanctions, came just before the presidential election--in time to bolster GOP support from Cuban-Americans.

The strategy may have worked. Bush carried Florida. Yet a poll taken a year ago, and cited in a Miami Herald editorial last week, showed that 48 percent of Cuban-Americans who were U.S. citizens supported unrestricted family travel to the island, while 49 percent did not.

When the House last month voted down the easing of the travel ban, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), a Cuban-American and a fierce supporter of sanctions against Castro, referred to Cubans back home as "our brothers and sisters."

Somebody please tell her that the latest regimen of sanctions fits neither the Cuban ideal of closely knit families nor the American sense of fairness and compassion.

Copyright © 2005