Carlos Giménez Proposes Halting US Travel and Remittances to Cuba

Recently, Cuban-American Congressman Carlos Giménez has vocally defended his letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, advocating for the suspension of travel and remittances to Cuba. In an interview with Univision, he argued that each flight and remittance contributes financially to the Cuban regime. "Every flight brings more revenue to the regime, every remittance brings more revenue to the regime," he stated.

When questioned about whether these measures might harm ordinary citizens more than the Cuban government itself, Giménez was resolute: "They are suffering because there is a dictatorship, and we need to dismantle the dictatorship. Our target is the dictatorship, not the Cuban people," he emphasized. He also expressed that his primary concern is "Cuba's freedom."

In a separate interview with Telemundo 51, the legislator reiterated his stance: "We know these are sources of income for the regime, and we must stop all income coming from the United States because we are going to stop giving oxygen to this regime." According to him, every dollar entering the island ultimately benefits the government either directly or indirectly.

The Republican congressman believes that his proposals would deprive the regime of resources used to "oppress its own people." "The time for Cuba's freedom is now, and I hope President Trump will do everything possible to achieve that," he declared. Although he acknowledged the severity of these measures, he considers them necessary: "It's difficult, but sometimes you have to take difficult measures to achieve what you want in the end, and the end is the dismantling of this regime and freedom for the Cuban people."

Reactions Among Cuban-Americans in the US

In South Florida, the initiative has been perceived as a direct attack on family connections. In a community where sending money, medicines, or visiting relatives is common, suspending flights and remittances would be a severe blow. "The regime will never be pressured because they have many ways to find food, and they will continue the same," a Cuban woman told Telemundo 51. "All they're doing is making things harder for our families there, and leaving us here with our hands tied," lamented another Cuban living in the U.S.

Apart from the human drama, the proposal could also have local economic repercussions, affecting small and medium businesses that rely on services to Cuba. Tatiana Domínguez, owner of Gallo Travel, expressed her concern. "Without being able to offer these services, our businesses would be on the brink of bankruptcy... I know mothers who tell me: 'I have to go to Cuba regardless of who is in power,'" she said.

Critics of the measure warn that extreme isolation has failed in the past as a strategy to weaken the Cuban regime, only increasing the population's suffering without tangible results. Even Mauricio Claver-Carone, U.S. special envoy for Latin America, expressed reservations: "These are old tools, I would say. I think we can be more creative, but obviously, I understand, and it comes from a good place."

Giménez's proposal reignites a longstanding and profound debate within the Cuban diaspora: How to confront a dictatorial regime without making the people, who already live under its oppression, pay the price?