Jay Z and Beyonce’s 2013 Cuba Trip Declared Legal

There’s East Coast vs West Coast then there’s U.S.A vs. Cuba. Over a year after Jay Z and Beyonce’s trip to Cuba sprouted controversy, U.S. government officials have declared the trip not in violation of the U.S.-Cuba embargo.

Back in April 2013, Jay Z and Beyonce spent their fifth wedding anniversary in Havana, Cuba as part of a “cultural trip” licensed by the Treasury Department, according to organizers of the trip. After a review by the Treasury Department, the trip was deemed was no in any violation, according to he Treasury Department’s Office of Inspector General yesterday (August 20th):

We found no indication that U.S. sanctions were violated, and we concluded that the … decision not to pursue a formal investigation was reasonable

The U.S-Cuban embargo began back in 1960 and places restrictions on imports from Cuba as well as traveling from America citizens. The Carters’ trip was described as a “people-to-people” cultural visit which included visits with Cuban artists, nightclubs and privately run restaurants.

A week after the early April 2013 trip, Jay Z responded to criticism over the Cuba visit on his song “Open Letter”. On the song Jay Z rapped: “I’m in Cuba, I love Cubans/This Communist talk is so confusing.