Speech #900104591

If they claim that their intent. when they left the United States. was simply to visit Mexico Cityand it was not until after they arrived there that they were invited. or decided. to visit Cubathere is no chance of prosecution unless the Government can produce evidence that this claim Is false and that. at the time of their departure. they fully intended to go on to Cuba. We must remember that the Presidential ban on travel to Cuba is one thing. the statute providing penalties for violation of the ban is anotherand the statute. unfortunately. does not make it a crime to travel to or in a country in which the President has banned travel. If. after traveling to Mexico City with technical legality. they enter Cuba knowing that travel to that country is banned. they are violating the Presidential ban on travel. but not the Immigration and Nationality Act provision which imposes a penalty only for illegal departure from. or entry into. the United States. There is another way of evading this law. The socalled students made partial use of it. You apply for a passport. stating you desire to visit a country in which travel is permitted. You are given a passport. You leave this country. possessing a "valid passport" in compliance with the provisions of section 1185 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. You go to the country you said you intended to visit--and then you proceed. from that country. to Cuba or some other country to which travel is banned. This has been done by the Communists over and over again for a period of many years.