Patricia Zengerle (Brian Ellsworth) and Matt Spetalnick

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The Biden administration will announce as early as this week a plan for strengthening its skeletal staffing at the U.S. embassy Havana in order to resume visa processing for Cubans which had been largely suspended over recent years. Two people who are familiar with the situation told Reuters.

As a result President Joe Biden’s yearlong review of Cuba’s communist-led policy, the deployment of additional consular officials to Havana would be the first phase in easing visa restrictions imposed by former President Donald Trump.

Trump’s State Department reduced embassy staff sharply in 2017. This was due to “anomalous medical incidents”, which became known as the “Havana Syndrome.” Employees in Cuba’s capital were first affected by the mysterious illness, which later spread throughout the country.

Cubans are often seeking to immigrate, or to travel to the United States in order to reunite their families. Visa processing was almost stopped by this drawdown. Trump reversed a historic agreement between Cuba and the United States that was overseen by Barack Obama.

Because they are not permitted to share details, the people who were familiar with this matter refused to give their names. According to one source, senior U.S. diplomats at Havana were expected to announce the plan as soon as Thursday.

The White House referred questions by Reuters to State Department. It did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The sources stated that the staff would focus their attention on an enormous backlog of visa request which has gone untended for a long time.

The processing of Cuban visas was transferred to Guyana by the U.S. Embassy during the Trump administration, as few Cubans were able to afford travel.

Brian Nichols, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere, told legislators during February 3 hearings that “temporary duty consular officials to Havana would be sent by the administration in the not too distant future”, but did not provide any specifics.

REMITTANCES

Even after this week’s anticipated embassy announcement the Biden administration won’t likely provide more clarity on the plans of the Biden Administration to reduce the flow to Cuba for remittances. This was due to Trump’s restrictions. The financial support provided by Cuban Americans for their families was a lifeline.

One source said that the decision was still being considered.

Nichols said last month in testimony that White House recommendations for remittances had been made and that they “wait their decision.”

Biden was Obama’s vice-president and had pledged during Trump’s 2020 campaign to engage with Cuba’s government.

The Biden administration, however, imposed sanctions against Cuban officials as well as security officers in response to Havana crackdown in July. They also have further restrictions over Cuban protesters being tried.

Biden officials realize that any loosening of Cuban sanctions could result in political fallout amongst conservative Cuban Americans. These people make up an important voting bloc in south Florida. They have largely voted for Trump’s harsh policies regarding Cuba which helped them win the crucial swing state.

However, a majority of Cuban American legislators, Republicans and Democrats, support the idea of resumed visa processing at the Embassy.