One of President Biden’s final foreign policy decisions in the White House to remove Cuba from the state sponsor of terrorism list has caused criticism from both sides of the political aisle. Sources tell The Associated Press that senior Biden administration officials who previewed the plan say dozens of political prisoners and others considered by the U.S. to be unjustly detained would be released by the end of the Biden administration at noon on Jan. 20.
The Catholic Church has been negotiating with Cuba’s communist-run government to facilitate the prisoner release.
The plan would also ease some economic pressure on Cuba, as well as a 2017 memorandum issued by then-President Donald Trump toughening U.S. position toward Cuba.
Reaction from Republicans
Republican officials are criticizing Biden’s choice, including Rep. María Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., who said on X, “Cuba is a leading sponsor of terrorism harboring, training and enabling Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist enemies of the U.S.”
Once again, the Democrats have BETRAYED the Cubans!
— Rep. María Elvira Salazar (@RepMariaSalazar) January 14, 2025
Shame on the entire Biden Administration for taking Cuba off the State Sponsor of Terrorism list.
Cuba is a LEADING sponsor of Terrorism, harboring, training & enabling Hamas, Hezbollah & other terrorist enemies of the USA. pic.twitter.com/4u9slVJCae
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, also weighed in on the decision.
“These moves do incredible damage to American national security and send a message to our adversaries that they can rely on outgoing democrat administrations – and wait out pressure from republican administrations – to continue engaging in terrorism and other aggression against Americans,” Cruz said in a statement.
Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis condemned the decision.
“The Biden administration continues on its quest to leave as much wreckage behind on its way out the door as possible,” DeSantis said on X.
The Biden Administration continues on its quest to leave as much wreckage behind on its way out the door as possible. Cuba should not be removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. The communist dictatorship in Cuba is one of the most repressive regimes in the world and…
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 15, 2025
Reaction from Democrats
Florida’s Democratic Party is also criticizing Biden. Democratic Party chair, Nikki Fried, released a statement disagreeing with the action.
“While any return of political prisoners from the clutches of communist Cuba is cause for celebration, the regime’s treatment of the Cuban people continues to be one of the biggest human rights violations of the last century,” Fried said on X.
The Florida Democratic Party condemns the removal of Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
— Florida Democrats (@FlaDems) January 14, 2025
Statement below: pic.twitter.com/fD3pcYj27K
Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y. disagrees with the administration’s decision as well.
“Do the majority of Cuban Americans support the removal of Cuba, an adversary of the U.S., from the list of state sponsors of terrorism?” Torres said on X. “If the answer is ‘no,’ then why is the Biden administration unnecessarily alienating Cuban Americans?”
Do the majority of Cuban Americans support the removal of Cuba, an adversary of the US, from the list of state sponsors of terrorism?
— Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) January 15, 2025
If the answer is ‘no,’ then why is the Biden Administration unnecessarily alienating Cuban Americans? I agree with the Florida Democratic… https://t.co/X9YDDl67gE
However, Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., applauds the decision.
“I welcome the Biden administration’s steps to remove Cuba from the state sponsor of terrorism list – a long overdue action that will help normalize relations with our neighbor,” Omar said in a statement.
Will the decision stay?
The move probably won’t last though, with President-elect Trump’s team likely to reverse the decision.
His choice for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has backed punitive measures against the island’s government.
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo designated Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism in January 2021. He said Cuba hadn’t followed through on commitments it made to President Barack Obama in 2015.
Cuba was one of just four nations designated as state sponsors of terrorism, along with North Korea, Iran and Syria.
