I received a "warning letter" from the US Government

[RagingInMiami]

As some of you know, I traveled to Cuba last May in an act of civil disobedience along with two other Americans. On our return through the Bahamas, we admitted we had traveled to Cuba rather than lie to a federal officer.

Homeland Security then detained us, searched our bags, lectured us on the illegalities of traveling to Cuba without a special license and forced us to fill out a form before allowing us to board our plane back to Miami.

They said they were going to fine us, but our group had a lawyer in California who was ready to defend us. I didn't hear anything from the Feds until today, when I received the following warning letter in the mail.

I wonder if this means I'm now on the "no-fly list".




EDIT: Here is the thread I posted back in May about my trip, which includes a long photo slideshow, and a description of my incident with the Feds in the Bahamas.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[rsr1771]

1. letter

Our Cuban policy is idiotic and a travel ban makes no sense. But unless you are prepared to pay serious fine, I wouldn't go there again.

[jus_the_facts]

2. What a crock o'shit....

....like they don't have anything better to do?!

K and R

[LSK]

3. the whole ban on Cuba is outdated and BS

I remember your thread on your trip, maybe you can repost a link to it for others.

[RagingInMiami]

7. Good idea

I just added it to the OP in an edit.

[LeftyMom]

4. Your papers are not in order, Sir.

Jackbooted assholes. If this is a free country (as we're so often told) can't you fly wherever you can want?

[NMMNG]

47. But, but--we're living in a post-9/11 world now!

Terr'ists! Terr'ists!

[GeorgeGist]

5. Isn't FREEDOM...

just wonderful to behold.

[lildreamer316]

11. My thoughts exactly.

Letter looks like it came from the USSR or somewehere oppresive like that. Chinese govt. perhaps?
Simply ridiculous.

[RagingInMiami]

23. The first thing we noticed after spending seven days in Cuba

And a few hours in the Bahamas, is that once you enter the US Customs area, it immediately takes on a Nazi vibe. The Homeland Security shield, the dark blue uniforms, long sleeves, pants tucked inside black boots.

It totally killed our Caribbean vibe.

[beltanefauve]

68. And I've experienced

the same thing crossing in from Canada, many years before 911.

[wizstars]

60. No, it's from the KGWB

That's Komitet George W. Bushski

[graywarrior]

6. Did you bring home any cigars?

[RagingInMiami]

8. Not me because I don't smoke cigars

But one of the guys I was with snuck in a half-smoked Cohiba, which he lit up at Miami International Airport.

[graywarrior]

10. Sweet. I love rebels.

[Kutjara]

9. It's not illegal to travel to Cuba.

Notice the very careful wording of the letter. Travel to Cuba is not an offense; engaging in economic 'transactions', however, is illegal. You can travel to Cuba as much as you want, as long as you don't buy or sell anything.

The Feds try to get around this by talking about 'indirect transactions,' meaning that, if some of the money you spent for your airline ticket was used to pay fees to Havana Airport, you are considered to have engaged in that transaction yourself, and have therefore broken the law.

It's all such a heap of steaming horseshit and makes the US Government look like the biggest bunch of jackasses who've ever existed.

I'm glad they aren't taking it any further, though. In the current environment, I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to return you to Cuba for a long-term stay.

[lisainmilo]

17. I noticed that too

It's a bunch of shit. They want the whole country in fear. Hitler tactics!

[Quantess]

45. AHA! So it's intimidation.

[Generic Brad]

12. You're officially on notice

I just thought that was a Colbert bit. But it appears a person really can be put on notice.

[BushOut06]

13. Wait - I thought it was CUBA that did that crap...

Aren't we always told that in authoritarian societies, citizens aren't allowed to travel freely? We're always told how the horrible dictator Castro refuses to allow his people to travel freely to other countries.

Must be some bizarro world we're in

[tsuki]

14. We have never fought a war with Cuba. Why can't they make our

Nikes for us?

[eridani]

26. Nikes the shoes, or Nikes the missiles?

There you have the difference between "good" communists like the Chinese and "bad communists like the Cubans. One lets us use their political prisoners to make shoes, and the other doesn't.

[tsuki]

38. No, the Chinese make our missiles, at least the guidance systems.

I meant the shoes.

[Mr_Spock]

15. Generic bureaucratic bullcrap

You may have trouble getting out of any imposed fines though.

[slaveplanet]

16. freedom of movement

is the backbone of freedom.

your act was not civil disobedience.

It was corporate disobedience in eyes of the big brother.

Big brother can't be havin it's corporations traipsing off to anywhere they damn please.

[alfredo]

20. they don't give a shit about our freedom.

[jerry611]

27. There is no such thing

You can't just walk into any country you want. The world doesn't work that way.

[LoZoccolo]

18. And yet the Castro contingent here still doesn't believe you went! n/t

[RagingInMiami]

44. Maybe they'll believe me when I end up in Guantanamo

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

52. GITMO - the only US Naval base in a country with which

we do not have diplomatic relations

[Kingshakabobo]

19. Wow. Thanks for that slide-show! I missed it the first time around.

[Catherine Vincent]

24. Ditto!

I don't know how in the heck I missed that thread.

[RagingInMiami]

25. I posted that when you had me on ignore

[Catherine Vincent]

31. LOL!

Well you took great pictures. I love to travel, sightsee and snap pictures of the locals. Good job.

[theanarch]

21. "...now there really is no need

to travel to these foreign lands,
and although the list grows larger
you must try and understand,
try hard not to worry
if someday you should hear:
that the whole world is off-limits,
visit Disneyland this year

William Worthy isn't worthy
to enter our shore,
went down to Cuba
he's not American any more
but somehow it is strange
to hear the State Department say:
you are living in the free world,
in the free world you must stay."

Phil Ochs, 1963 "The Ballad of William Worthy"

[robinlynne]

22. You are so lucky my friend.

I ahve heard of 7,000.00 fines and two weeks in jail this year.

[bigbrother05]

28. The world is as one.

[EFerrari]

29. I nearly posted to send them a warning letter back.

You know, "You are now on notice that your violations of the Constitution have reached a level of unacceptability . . ."


But, the thing is, the terrorists have won because I wouldn't do that in this climate.

[immoderate]

30. That sure is an ugly letter.

Well, don't fall for their shit. Call their bluff!

Just kidding.

--IMM

[jazzjunkysue]

32. I'm sure Thurman is quite proud of himself. Big bully.

There's a job you can be proud of.

[RagingInMiami]

33. And the irony of the double-speak of the letter

"The Cuban Democracy Act of 1992"

[Critters2]

35. Yep! That had me laughing out loud!! nt

[IChing]

36. Me too...the irony..kicked and nominated

just be careful my friend.

[Tom Joad]

34. Must have sent letter in honor of Fidel's 80th birthday.

I won't vouch for everything Fidel has done, and don't like the idea of anyone staying in office that long, but i do support the accomplishments of the Cuban people, and their right to chose a way that does not benefit the wealthy.

[gully]

37. "FREE" country?

eom

[Protagoras]

39. Not just free...don't forget Brave

god how we are choking on our own propaganda.

I'm ready to move to Ecotopia. (if you've ever read it)

[gully]

57. Ectopia?

Anything sounds good at this point.

[LynnTheDem]

40. America; #15 in the world for freedoms. Imagine a nation that forbids

citizens to travel to other nations.

Think bush can drop us to #20 in the world before he's done? If anyone can, bush can! RAH! RAH! RAH!

[dweller]

41. send 'em this

they'll get the gist.

peace.
dp

[pitohui]

42. it means they're blowing it off

you're good to go, just don't do it again

one of my friends went to cuba also, they totally blow it off and she flies around the world constantly, no problem, i seriously doubt you are "no fly'd"

[and-justice-for-all]

43. Just because BushCo doesnt like Cuba

Does not mean that WE ALL HATE CUBA..Since when do we need person to goto another country?? FUCK THEM!

[tenshi816]

46. That's very interesting because

Cuba is becoming an increasingly popular holiday destination for people in the UK. I would love to go and was talking to a travel agent earlier this year about booking a trip there. The travel agent told me there were no restrictions on Americans travelling to Cuba from the UK (I'm an American long-term resident of Britain) and that I didn't need to ask the American government for permission. In the light of what happened to you, I wonder what would have happened to me if I had actually booked the trip - I wonder if I'd have been turned away at airport check-in for trying to board a flight to Cuba without that "special license" you got told off about.

Your experience has made me more determined than ever to go.

[savemefromdumbya]

51. I'm an immigrant from the UK

and I thought we could go to Cuba? Oh well, it will have to be Haiti instead?

[tenshi816]

54. You can - unless you're an American!

I'm an immigrant to the UK from America. I was just wondering if the UK travel agent gave me erroneous information about Americans flying to Cuba from the UK not having to have special permission.

[elehhhhna]

48. OMG RED ALRET! What if you'd brought a carryon Mojito (tall)

on the plane?

[Hosnon]

49. I wouldn't have any problem with lying to the federal officer. I take it

you were purposely trying to make it known?

[RagingInMiami]

58. Yes, we wanted to point out how absurd the law is about restricting travel

to Cuba. I got the impression that even the Customs Agents who were hassling us agreed with me.

[Hosnon]

59. Ah...nothing like a little bit of civil disobedience to brighten my day:)

[savemefromdumbya]

50. Why can't we go to Cuba?

[sweetheart]

53. Your agent is famous.

" Thurman Taylor, the Washington D.C.-based OFAC agent, made sure the pair did not take any of the Al-Haramain property, which includes dozens of copies of Qurans translated into English."

http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2005/1016/local/stor...

[BluePatriot]

55. Oh, OFAC

We have to follow their regs (I am in the cargo industry) They just want to make sure you're not smuggling goods in or out of Cuba. Alarming and serious sounding letter for an individual to get, but you probably shouldn't worry about it too much, esp. given the statement "closing our file on this matter w/issuance of this letter in lieu of a referral for civil penalties"

Just frame the thing as a badge of honor

[lonestarnot]

56. ewwww ragin' you bad!

[ThomWV]

61. Sue! You Have Been Denied Due Process

Some investigation of you was made. Someone had to make a decision about your future, the decision to send the letter rather than refer the mater further for civil penalities. So in a sense at the lowest court of the nation you were tried without notice, representation, or even knowledged of the event. There was a total lack of due process involved. Sue the shit out of them.

[Raskolnik]

65. No he wasn't.

The process of law was, apparently, followed.

The law may be stupid, but that doesn't mean its a due process violation to follow it.

[TrogL]

62. I suppose I should note at this point

I can buy Cuba cigars at the corner store.

[Generic Other]

63. Living in the Free World

Aint that a crock!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

64. They're protecting your "freedom".

I suppose if you bought a plate of Black Beans and Rice and a shot of rum, while listening to some great music in Havana, you are now a criminal.

[leveymg]

66. Consider yourself on double-secret probation!

[enough]

67. Your Cuba photo gallery is as beautiful as that letter is obscene.

Thank you.

[bleedingheart]

69. What a gorgeous photo essay you did! I am glad you reposted it!

I may get another piano from a relative...if I do...I may have to look up your friend to donate my current piano to the Cuban children...