Foreign Policy

U.S. Restricts Some Cuban Officials' Visas Related To Medical Missions

The State Department said the decision has to do with making sure U.S. funds don't support Cuban human rights violations.

U.S. Restricts Some Cuban Officials' Visas Related To Medical Missions
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The U.S. Department of State is imposing visa restrictions on certain Cuban officials. Mike Pompeo said it would affect people "responsible for exploitative and coercive labor practices under Cuba's overseas medical missions program."

He's referring to a program that's been around for decades. It sends Cuban doctors to places that need medical care, but the U.S. says the program is a profit motive for the Cuban government. Pompeo says Cuba uses that program to "earn money on the backs of its citizens" by forcing medical professionals to travel to unsafe places and work long hours.

A statement from the State Department said the decision has to do with making sure U.S. funds don't directly support Cuban human rights violations. The department also said it doesn't want to indirectly support Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who Cuba is aligned with.

The restrictions went into effect on Friday. It's uncertain which officials, or how many, are restricted.