Editor’s Note
This article discusses the suspension of Western Union’s remittance services to Cuba, a move attributed to recent U.S. sanctions policy. The decision significantly impacts the Cuban diaspora and families relying on these financial transfers.
Western Union has suspended remittance services to Cuba following an announcement about halting its operations with the island. The company stated that this decision is in response to regulations imposed by the government of Donald Trump, which reinstated a stricter sanctions policy against entities linked to the Cuban government.
The measure directly affects the millions of Cubans residing in the United States, who used this platform to send money to their relatives on the island. According to the company, users with payments in process will receive the corresponding refund, although no details have been given regarding future options or plans to resume these services.
This announcement reverses the easing of restrictions implemented during the Joe Biden administration, which had allowed the resumption of operations in 2022 after removing certain restrictions applied during Trump’s previous term. The new provisions indicate a return to a stricter stance, marking a hardening of foreign policy towards Cuba.
The main reason behind the suspension of Western Union’s operations in Cuba is the inclusion of Orbit S.A., a Cuban company responsible for processing remittances, on the Cuba Restricted Entities List. As detailed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, this company is linked to the Cuban government and military, which motivated its re-inclusion on the list.
With this action, the U.S. government seeks to restrict financial flows to Cuba as part of a broader policy to pressure the Cuban regime. These sanctions are not new; in 2020, during Trump’s first term, the financial entity Fincimex was also sanctioned, which at that time led to a similar suspension of remittances.
The suspension of the service primarily affects the Cuban diaspora in the United States, especially in Florida, which is home to the majority of Cuban Americans. For many families, remittances represent a crucial source of income that allows them to cover basic needs amid the economic crisis on the island.
The Cuban leader has emphasized that this type of sanction not only limits the financial support of emigrants to their families but also increases the separation between families on both sides of the Florida Strait. According to official data, over 60% of remittances sent to Cuba during 2022 and 2023 came from the United States.
With the reactivation of sanctions, Western Union is prevented from collaborating with the financial entities authorized to receive and process transfers in Cuba. This means that, for the moment, there is no viable alternative for making regular money transfers to the island through this company. Although they assure the refund of ongoing payments, no concrete timelines have been established for the resumption of the service.
The return of these restrictions occurs just weeks after Donald Trump’s inauguration for his second term, reflecting his tougher stance towards socialist governments in Latin America, particularly Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. Under his direction, Cuba has been re-added to the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, a decision previously reversed by Joe Biden.
The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the decision, stating that it will worsen the economic crisis on the island and increase difficulties for Cuban families who depend on this type of income. In a statement, the government expressed that these measures directly affect the Cuban people and will only succeed in increasing emigration to the United States.
In recent years, the flow of remittances from the United States has become an important source of income for Cuban families amid the country’s economic crisis. International analysts estimate that, with the suspension of this service, many families will face even greater difficulties accessing basic products and essential services.
During the Joe Biden administration, certain relaxations of restrictions were implemented, including the temporary lifting of sanctions related to remittances. This allowed Western Union to resume its operations with Cuba in 2022, although they faced technical issues that limited their ability to process transfers in 2024.
However, the measures adopted by the Trump administration have reversed all previous efforts to ease relations with Havana. Furthermore, in January 2025, Trump further tightened sanctions on financial entities linked to the Cuban government, nullifying significant progress in bilateral conflict matters.