Trump Administration Expected To Use Section 7031(c) To Add More Cuba Officials To Visa Denial List

The Trump Administration is expected to continue to use Section 7031(c) as a means to influence the behavior of the Republic of Cuba. Thus far, however, those individuals sanctioned are unlikely to feel impeded by a lack of visa to visit the United States. A question is why the Trump Administration has only chosen to identify three individuals within the Republic of Cuba who meet the criteria for Section 7031(c)? Could there be only three within a population of 11 million?

Thus far subject to Section 7031(c):

Former President Raul Castro & Family
Minister of Defense & Family
Minister of Interior & Family

From United States Department Of State: “This designation is made under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2020 (Div. G, P.L. 116-94). Under Section 7031(c), once the Secretary of State designates officials of foreign governments for their involvement, directly or indirectly, in significant corruption, those individuals and their immediate family members are ineligible for entry into the United States. The law also requires the Secretary of State to either publicly or privately designate or identify such officials and their immediate family members.”

Sec. 7031. (c) Anti-Kleptocracy and human rights. (1) INELIGIBILITY.

(A) Officials of foreign governments and their immediate family members about whom the Secretary of State has credible information have been involved in significant corruption, including corruption related to the extraction of natural resources, or a gross violation of human rights shall be ineligible for entry into the United States.

(B) The Secretary shall also publicly or privately designate or identify officials of foreign governments and their immediate family members about whom the Secretary has such credible information without regard to whether the individual has applied for a visa.

(2) EXCEPTION.—Individuals shall not be ineligible if entry into the United States would further important United States law enforcement objectives or is necessary to permit the United States to fulfill its obligations under the United Nations Headquarters Agreement: Provided, That nothing in paragraph (1) shall be construed to derogate from United States Government obligations under applicable international agreements.

(3) WAIVER.—The Secretary may waive the application of paragraph (1) if the Secretary determines that the waiver would serve a compelling national interest or that the circumstances which caused the individual to be ineligible have changed sufficiently.

LINK To Previous Posts:

U.S. Designates Cuba's Minister Of Interior And His Children Under Section 7031(c); Raul Castro & Family Designated In September; More Designations Expected
16 November 2019

https://www.cubatrade.org/blog/2019/11/16/us-designates-cubas-minister-of-interior-and-his-children-under-section-7031c-more-designations-expected?rq=7031

U.S. Department Of State Designates General Raul Castro, Former President Of Cuba
26 September 2019

https://www.cubatrade.org/blog/2019/9/26/us-department-of-state-designates-general-raul-castro-former-president-of-cuba?rq=7031

United States Department Of State Designates Minister Of Defense Of Cuba For Violations Of Human Rights
2 January 2020

https://www.cubatrade.org/blog/2020/1/2/united-states-department-of-state-designates-minister-of-defense-of-cuba-for-violations-of-human-rights?rq=7031