Cuban Entrepreneurs Can’t Visit U.S. Because of “National Security"?

Trump's travel ban is ostensibly aimed at terrorists and would-be immigrants. But in Cuba those affected include students, scientists, academics and entrepreneurs who have no intention of living in the U.S.

One of them is Greta Tilán, a Cuban entrepreneur who makes and sells natural cosmetics. Greta says her trips to the United States helped her grow her business. She learned from similar companies while on a student visa there and later traveled on a business visa to purchase equipment she needed in Cuba. Under the new ban, Greta is no longer able to return to the United States as a student or on business.

"The Obama era was a time of great prosperity for the country, because tourism increased," says Tilán. "There were many businesses, and that made many things easier. There used to be opportunities for entrepreneurs, opportunities for growth and development. They no longer exist."

Tilán says it's not just the travel ban that has made life harder for entrepreneurs.

"The United States has made everything much more difficult," she says. "The embargo imposed on Cuba prevents other countries from trading with Cuba. For example, if I’m Cuban and I go to any other country in the world to open a bank account so I can do business, I can’t because the U.S. government doesn't deal with banks that have accounts for Cubans."

To learn more about the travel ban and its impact, read our article HERE