Effective January 28, 2011, President Obama’s promise to lessen travel restrictions with Cuba will be partially implemented.  The final rule issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is summarized here:

“Under Department of Homeland Security regulations, direct flights between the United States and Cuba must arrive at or depart from one of three named U.S. airports: John F. Kennedy International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, or Miami International Airport. This document amends current DHS regulations to allow additional U.S. airports that are able to process international flights to request approval of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to process authorized flights between the United States and Cuba. These amendments are in accordance with the President’s recent statement easing the restrictions placed on flights to and from Cuba by, among other things, providing that eligible airports may seek approval from CBP to accommodate flights arriving from, or departing for, Cuba. This statement builds upon the President’s 2009 initiative to promote democracy and human rights in Cuba by easing travel restrictions to facilitate greater contact between separated family members in the United States and Cuba.”