"It's a good sign," he said.

He says it no doubt helps the Cuban regime, but "you know we got to look at the humane side of it. The people are suffering. I've personally lost many aunts and many uncles.... have never been able to attend a funeral."

But while the U-S lifts restrictions on travel and money that can be sent to family in Cuba, he says it's a two-way street.

"One of the things that we need to look at is, if we are making changes here, there has to be change on that end as well."

He says it appears Raul Castro is trying to reform, but with his brother Fidel still alive, change is slow to come.

Senator Mel Martinez, Cuban-born, says the policy change "is good news for Cuban families separated by a lack of freedom in Cuba."

But he cautions that there should be reasonable limits on travel and how much money can be given to Cuban family members, who have to pay the communist regime 20 percent of what they receive.