The Obama Administration’s position on Cuba (read: economic embargo and travel restrictions) has been one of incremental change. Political pragmatics over doing the right thing. The rationale: Why unnecessarily provoke South Florida exile-community politicians plus the right-wing punditocracy and their loyal followers, when you have higher-priority battles to fight?
But maybe the U.S. Supreme Court can give the Administration some cover. The high court has been asked by the American Civil Liberties Union and several Florida state universities (including USF) to review a (2006) state law that bans Florida universities and public schools from using state money–or even getting creative with their budgets–for travel to countries on America’s “sponsors of terrorism” list. Cuba is on that list–as are Iran, Sudan and Syria. Last September the law was upheld by a federal appeals court in Atlanta–after having been declared unconstitutional previously by a U.S. District judge in Miami.
As for the Supreme Court, it has invited the Administration to file a brief outlining the U.S. stance on the law.
The legal ball is now in the court of the U.S. (acting) solicitor general, Neal Katyal, who would represent the Administration.
Not within the purview of the Court, however, is another matter. What in the world is Cuba doing on that “sponsors of terrorism” list? Three Mideast powder kegs and a Cold War relic that is nothing but a personal-vendetta target for the sovereign state of South Florida? It makes no sense. Nor did it when the list was renewed–less than two years ago.