U.S. opposes Fla. limits on Cuba travel

MIAMI, April 11 (UPI) -- A lawyer for the U.S. Justice Department argued at a hearing Friday against a Florida law aimed at making travel to Cuba more difficult.

Michelle Bennett told a federal magistrate in Miami that the law, which requires travel agencies to post a $250,000 bond and pay as much as $2,500 in registration fees, is unconstitutional, The Miami Herald reported. Bennett said federal law pre-empts state travel restrictions and the Florida statute would make travel to Cuba more difficult by reducing the number of agencies offering to make arrangements.

The law, sponsored by state Rep. David Rivera, a Miami Republican, and passed in 2008, has not yet been enforced. South Florida travel agencies filed a lawsuit and won a temporary injunction in July.

The Bush administration limited Cubans living in the United States to one trip every three years to visit relatives. President Barack Obama changed that to once a year and is expected to end other restrictions on travel and on sending money to Cuba next week.

Magistrate Alan Gold said he will rule next week on the Florida law.