The Catholic Church is set to advance talks with Cuba’s government for the release of political prisoners, officials confirm.
Cuba: So, the other day, Cuba released 553 political prisoners after the Biden administration decided to take Cuba off the state sponsors of terrorism list. This was part of some goodwill gestures.
The Catholic Church had been in talks with the government about this release. Most of these prisoners were arrested during those huge protests back in July 2021. It was a tough time, with over a thousand people getting locked up.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel expressed gratitude on social media, saying the U.S. decision was long overdue. He mentioned that these actions have really impacted the country and its families.
Before the announcement, a senior official from the Biden administration hinted that they were supporting the Church’s efforts. They were planning to notify Congress about removing Cuba from that terrorism list.
They also said they found no evidence to keep Cuba on that list. It’s interesting because Trump had put Cuba back on it just before leaving office in January 2021, after Obama had removed it.
Some Cuban American Republicans from Florida were not happy about Biden’s moves. They called it “pathetic” in a video they shared online.
Sen. Ted Cruz, whose dad is Cuban, also criticized the decision, saying it was unacceptable. He plans to work with Trump to reverse it.
Meanwhile, folks in Havana were pretty pleased with the news. A bartender named Dainerys said it’s a step forward for the country, bringing more resources and possibilities.
Another local, Joel, agreed, saying they shouldn’t have been on that list in the first place.
Besides removing Cuba from the list, Biden’s team is also waiving a part of the Helms-Burton Act, which lets original property owners sue foreign companies using their confiscated properties.
Trump was the first president not to waive this in 2019, which had been done every six months before that due to trade concerns.
Officials expect these new measures will quickly help those arrested during the protests and their families.
Biden is also easing some economic restrictions by rolling back a national security memo from 2017.
His administration believes these actions will lead to better human rights conditions in Cuba.
There’s been a lot of talk about Trump’s foreign policy, especially with Marco Rubio, a Cuban American, being a key figure in his administration.
Overall, it seems like a significant moment for Cuba and its people.
