Comments on: United Church of Castro Tours Havana http://www.exportlawblog.com/archives/111 Latest News on DDTC, BIS, OFAC, and other export law matters Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:52:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: ExportLawBlog » Bad Missionaries (Cont’d) http://www.exportlawblog.com/archives/111#comment-891 ExportLawBlog » Bad Missionaries (Cont’d) Fri, 23 Feb 2007 20:48:55 +0000 http://www.exportlawblog.com/archives/111#comment-891 [...] The criminal complaint filed against the two Florida men who obtained Cuba travel licenses for fake churches is amusing reading, at least if you enjoy reading about gangs that couldn’t shoot straight. Some 4,500 people traveled on the fake churches’ licenses and it’s easy to see how the authorities caught wind of the scheme: During interviews by Customs and Border Protection (”CBP”), travelers returning to the U.S. after traveling on these licenses admitted . . . that they were not traveling for religious purposes. [...] [...] The criminal complaint filed against the two Florida men who obtained Cuba travel licenses for fake churches is amusing reading, at least if you enjoy reading about gangs that couldn’t shoot straight. Some 4,500 people traveled on the fake churches’ licenses and it’s easy to see how the authorities caught wind of the scheme: During interviews by Customs and Border Protection (”CBP”), travelers returning to the U.S. after traveling on these licenses admitted . . . that they were not traveling for religious purposes. [...]

]]> By: anonymous http://www.exportlawblog.com/archives/111#comment-879 anonymous Fri, 23 Feb 2007 15:35:46 +0000 http://www.exportlawblog.com/archives/111#comment-879 I agree. Szubin's rationale was akwardly worded. I, too, think that it's unlikely that OFAC will cease issuing licenses to religious organizations. However, because of the acts of "license abusers," legitimate religious organizations wanting to operate in Cuba will be more closely scrutinized as OFAC will receive pressure from State Department and the Miami crowd to crack down on abuses of this category of travel. A big deal was made in the Miami press about the abuses of the Santeria groups. It just makes things harder. That's my point. I agree. Szubin’s rationale was akwardly worded. I, too, think that it’s unlikely that OFAC will cease issuing licenses to religious organizations. However, because of the acts of “license abusers,” legitimate religious organizations wanting to operate in Cuba will be more closely scrutinized as OFAC will receive pressure from State Department and the Miami crowd to crack down on abuses of this category of travel. A big deal was made in the Miami press about the abuses of the Santeria groups. It just makes things harder. That’s my point.

]]> By: Clif Burns http://www.exportlawblog.com/archives/111#comment-868 Clif Burns Fri, 23 Feb 2007 04:16:24 +0000 http://www.exportlawblog.com/archives/111#comment-868 Szubin said they "undermine the good works" of religious groups, not that they make it more difficult for groups to get licenses. I would be really surprised if this leads to OFAC denying licenses to groups of Baptist and Roman Catholic missionaries to Havana. And don't get me wrong, I don't have any sympathy for people who defraud the licensing process in order to get those license even though I think the whole Cuba embargo is silly and counterproductive. I just thought that Szubin's rationale was odd or, perhaps, oddly expressed. Szubin said they “undermine the good works” of religious groups, not that they make it more difficult for groups to get licenses. I would be really surprised if this leads to OFAC denying licenses to groups of Baptist and Roman Catholic missionaries to Havana.

And don’t get me wrong, I don’t have any sympathy for people who defraud the licensing process in order to get those license even though I think the whole Cuba embargo is silly and counterproductive. I just thought that Szubin’s rationale was odd or, perhaps, oddly expressed.

]]> By: anonymous http://www.exportlawblog.com/archives/111#comment-867 anonymous Fri, 23 Feb 2007 03:48:12 +0000 http://www.exportlawblog.com/archives/111#comment-867 I can't speak to what he meant. But the primary problem with these types of groups is that they just underscore the widespread abuse of the "religious" licenses and make it all the more difficult for legitimate organizations. The same thing happended years ago with the famous people to people licenses that started in the Clinton era. They were so widely abused (e.g., salsa dancing lessons) that OFAC had no choice and eventually that category of travel related licenses was abolished. Putting aside feelings about the embargo, I have zero sympathy for these guys. I can’t speak to what he meant. But the primary problem with these types of groups is that they just underscore the widespread abuse of the “religious” licenses and make it all the more difficult for legitimate organizations. The same thing happended years ago with the famous people to people licenses that started in the Clinton era. They were so widely abused (e.g., salsa dancing lessons) that OFAC had no choice and eventually that category of travel related licenses was abolished. Putting aside feelings about the embargo, I have zero sympathy for these guys.

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