On February 25 U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced an expansion of U.S. visa restriction policy for individuals exploiting Cuban labor.
This policy “targets forced labor linked to the Cuban labor export program. This expanded policy applies to current or former Cuban government officials, and other individuals, including foreign government officials, who are believed to be responsible for, or involved in, the Cuban labor export program, particularly Cuba’s overseas medical missions. This policy also applies to the immediate family of such persons.”
“Cuba’s labor export programs, which include the medical missions, enrich the Cuban regime, and in the case of Cuba’s overseas medical missions, deprive ordinary Cubans of the medical care they desperately need in their home country. The United States is committed to countering forced labor practices around the globe. To do so, we must promote accountability not just for Cuban officials responsible for these policies, but also those complicit in the exploitation and forced labor of Cuban workers.”
“According to official data, there are currently medical brigades in 59 countries, including Italy, Venezuela and Mexico. In the latter, there are more than 3,000 health workers on the island working under contracts between the two governments, while the Cuban health system is suffering a serious crisis that includes a shortage of medicines and supplies, as well as doctors.”
“In 2023, 70% of Cuba’s total exports were services, mainly professional services. 80% of that volume consisted of exports of doctors.
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U.S. State Department, Expansion of Visa Restrictions Policy for Individuals Exploiting Cuban Labor (Feb. 25, 2025); US imposes new sanctions on foreign officials linked to the export of Cuban professionals, Diario de Cuba (Feb. 25, 2025).