The Biden administration is preparing to announce it will lift Cuba‘s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, according to reports, triggering an angry wave of condemnation from Republicans.
Sen. Ted Cruz, whose father was Cuban, promised to work with Donald Trump’s incoming administration to immediately reverse the expected move.
‘Obama-Biden officials are continuing their legacy of closing out administrations with rank appeasement of the Cuban regime,’ he said.
‘They push these policies both because they believe in them and to undermine the incoming Trump administration and Republican Congress.’
He warned that any softening of the U.S. stance to the island risked ‘incredible damage’ to American national security.
It is the latest back and forth on the issue.
Barack Obama‘s administration lifted the designation during a period of warming relations, but it was reimposed on Jan. 11, 2021 during the final days of Donald Trump‘s time in office.
Officials cited Cuba’s closeness to the oppressive regime in Venezuela as justification as well as its refusal to extradite Colombian rebels to Colombia.
Biden signaled during the 2020 election campaign that he would pursue a softer line but has left to his final week to change policy.
Human rights groups and activists, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, have been pushing Biden to lift restrictions, warning that Cuba was close to economic collapse.
The issue is certain to be raised with Trump’s incoming secretary of state, Marco Rubio, when he appears before senators for his confirmation hearing Wednesday.
His family left Cuba before the communist revolution brought Fidel Castro to power but he has long been hawkish in his position on sanctions against the island.
More than 100 million people have died as a result of communist rule.
Cuba is state sponsor of terrorism, and pretending otherwise dehumanizes all the victims of its communist regime.
— John Kennedy (@SenJohnKennedy) January 14, 2025
