More Than 400 Western Union Locations Closed in Cuba Because of Trump’s Sanctions

More than 400 Western Union locations across Cuba closed on Monday. The closures come after The Trump Administration put restrictions on remittances and “U-Turn” transactions. Most Cubans depend on Western Union to receive money from family and friends in the United States.

“In line with the President’s foreign policy on Cuba, these actions are designed to target the Cuban regime while continuing to provide vital relief to the long-suffering people of Cuban,” the U.S. Department of State website says.

According to the Associated Press, President Trump says that the sanctions will remain until Cuba releases all political prisoners, rights to free assembly and expression are respected, political parties are legalized, and free elections are scheduled.

“The problem is not the closure of Western Union, but that Western Union is practically the only U.S.-to-Cuba provider of remittance payments,” Manuel Orozco, director of the Center for Migration and Economic Stabilization at Creative Associates International, said to the Washington Post.

In September, President Trump’s administration imposed sanctions on Cuba, blocking Americans from staying at Cuban government-owned properties and restricting Cuban alcohol and tobacco imports.

“These actions will ensure that U.S. dollars do not fund the Cuban regime and go directly to the Cuban people,” Trump said during a speech at the White House in recognition of Bay of Pigs veterans.