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This bill would waive certain foreign assistance, travel, and trade prohibitions against Cuba for Cuban nationals who enter the U.S. on a visa to play professional baseball and return to Cuba with their earnings. The visa would only be valid for the duration of the baseball season, wouldn’t have to be renewed as long as the player remains with the same team.

The President would be prohibited from denying visas to these Cuban nationals under authorities that allow for entry restrictions to be applied to certain classes of foreign nationals that could be determined to be detrimental to U.S. interests.

This legislation would not be affected by the economic embargo requirements against Cuba under the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996.

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States that such visa shall be valid only for the duration of the season and need not be renewed as long as the player remains with the same team.\n\nProhibits the President from denying visas to such nationals based upon authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act to restrict any entry of aliens or class of aliens that would be detrimental to U.S. interests.\n\nDeclares that this Act shall not be affected by the economic embargo requirements against Cuba under the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996.","summarized":true,"cost":null,"cost_commentary":"A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.","impact":"Cuban baseball players, professional baseball franchises, and the President.","argument_for":"There are already Cuban nationals playing professional baseball in the U.S. — this bill would simply allow them to do so through normal processes without having to defect.","argument_against":"Baseball players shouldn’t be exempt from travel prohibitions that apply to the Cuban public. 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Should Visas be Available for Cubans to Play Baseball in the U.S.?