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Cuba travel amendment loses
By Karina L. Arrue, Journal
Staff writer. The
Jersey Journal, NJ, Wednesday, July
13, 2005.
UNION CITY - An amendment which provided
for looser travel restrictions to Cuba was
recently defeated in the House of Representatives,
sparking an animated conversation among
the city's large Cuban community.
Rep. Robert Menendez, D-Hoboken, voted
against the Davis Amendment, which would
allow visits to family members in Cuba once
a year, instead of once every three years,
as well as a broader definition of "family,"
and, among other things, a provision for
student travel.
Menendez, the son of Cuban immigrants,
has long taken a hard-line stance against
Fidel Castro's government, saying that isolation
- economic and political - is the best way
to promote democracy there.
Emilio del Valle, founder and president
of the New Jersey Cuban Day Parade, agreed
with Castro's hardline stance.
"I don't believe that we should be
allowing people to go into Cuba for just
any reason," he said.
But many residents felt conflicted about
the economic sanctions against Cuba.
"Restrictions will lead to Castro's
fall, but I would love to see my family,"
said Annie L. Suarez, 22, queen of this
year's local Cuban Day Parade.
Carlos Conceiro, 71, a political prisoner
who came to the United States 31 years ago,
thinks travel restrictions should be lifted.
"The problem is not the Cuban government,
it's the American government," said
Conceiro. "If people want to go to
Cuba, they should be able to go."
Lourdes Lopez, owner of Amistad Restaurant
on 41st Street and Bergenline Avenue, said,
"I have no family in Cuba, but I know
a lot of Cubans who are disillusioned because
they would like to visit family." She
came to America 40 years ago with her mother,
Violeta Gato.
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