After the Biden administration announced removing Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism and taking other actions, Cuba has said it will release 553 political prisoners. The prisoners were mainly jailed following protests in July 2021, with many facing lengthy sentences. The Catholic Church had been negotiating with the Cuban government on their release. Cuban President Miguel DÃaz-Canel expressed gratitude for the decision to remove Cuba from the terrorism list. Despite this, some Cuban American Republican members of Congress criticized Biden’s actions.
In addition to removing Cuba from the list, the Biden administration will issue a waiver for Title III of the Helms Burton Act, allowing original owners of confiscated Cuban properties to sue companies involving in trafficking those properties. This move is expected to provide relief for the prisoners arrested during the protests. The Biden administration is also rescinding National Security Presidential Memorandum 5 to ease economic pressure on Cuba.
The actions by the Biden administration are seen as focusing on achieving practical results for human rights in Cuba and benefitting the Cuban people. Speculation about the potential influence of Sen. Marco Rubio, who is a foreign policy hawk advocating for a hard-line policy towards Cuba, remains a concern. The release of these political prisoners is viewed as a positive step in Cuba’s relations with the United States.
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