As President Obama touched down in Cuba for a three day visit, many Cuban Americans in Nashville are kept a close watch on the trip.
Some were critical and skeptical of the reasons behind the visit.
“I don’t know if this will bring benefits to American corporations, or if this will bring benefits to Obama himself,” said Alexander Santana, a Cuban American living in Nashville. “How does this bring any benefits to the Cuban people? I haven’t seen anything so far.”
Santana has lived in the U.S. for 8 years, but still has family in Cuba. He said he doesn’t trust the Cuban government’s motivations, and doesn’t believe the country’s approach to human rights or economic freedom will ever change.
The White House said the President's trip was designed to empower the lives of Cuban people, and build stronger economic ties and communication between the countries. The trip is the culmination of a three year effort to restore relations with Cuba. The last U.S. leader to visit Cuba was Calvin Coolidge in 1928.
However, some Cuban Americans in Nashville thought it may have done more harm than good.
”The only thing to be gained is by the Castros,” said Rey Montecristo, a Cuban American living in Nashville. “They gained the respect of the world to see the President of the US go to Cuba and shake hands with no conditions of freeing prisoners or holding free elections.”
Montecristo said he escaped Cuba to come to the U.S. at age 10. He still has family members living in the country and has limited contact with them. He said they describe a world filled with repression and a lack of food and basic essentials. He said he also feared nothing will ever change there.
President Obama planed to meet with some anti-Castro dissidents Tuesday.
