U.S. Again Bars Cuban Scholars.

The United States has denied visas to all 55 Cuban scholars who planned to attend a conference of the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) this month in Puerto Rico. According to the association, known as LASA, the Cubans were informed of the decision three weeks before the conference was scheduled to start, on March 15, 2006. The State Department's decision is consistent with the U.S. government actions that have tightened restrictions against academic and other contacts between Americans and Cubans. The blanket visa denials were made under a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act that allows the United States to keep out Cuban-government employees.