Democratic congressmen from Massachusetts are calling on President Biden to remove Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism (SSOT) list as soon as possible.
In a letter to the president signed by Representatives Ayanna Pressley, James P. McGovern, Seth Moulton, Lori Trahan, Stephen F. Lynch, Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey. The lawmakers recommended to Biden that Cuba: He determined the designation had “no merit” and it was removed from the SSOT list in 2015 by him and then-President Obama.
The Trump administration put Cuba back on the list in January 2021, but Democratic lawmakers said this was a “retaliatory move” as the president was about to leave office.
The lawmakers said the policy was “overdue for change,” adding that Cuba and the United States have cooperated on counterterrorism efforts.
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An old American car passes in front of the US Embassy in Havana on May 26, 2023. (Yamil Raji/AFP) (Photo by Yamil Raji/AFP via Getty Images)
“We believe the time to take action and remove Cuba from the SSOT list is now, not months later,” the letter said. “There is no political or other policy argument that can justify the United States continuing to deliberately increase the suffering of the Cuban people.”
The letter explains that all sectors of Cuban society face unabated hardship, which has prompted thousands to leave their homes and immigrate to the United States.
“Continuing the collective economic restrictions resulting from Cuba's remaining on the SSOT list is therefore contrary to the direct interests of the United States,” the letter said.
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Colombian President Gustavo Petro addresses the media during the Colombian municipal elections in Bogota, October 29, 2023. (Sebastian Barros/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The lawmakers also reminded Biden that Colombian President Gustavo Petro had asked him to remove Cuba from the list to facilitate peace negotiations between the Colombian government and National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas.
Mexico's president also called for Cuba's designation to be revoked, the lawmakers noted.
“As a presidential candidate, you promised to re-engage with Cuba and return to the policies initiated during the Obama-Biden administration, and we stand by this commitment,” the letter said. “We know that a lot has changed in Cuba and the United States since 2018, but two and a half years into our presidency, we are still in a position to overcome the overwhelming demands imposed by our predecessors, including returning Cuba to the SSOT list.” A number of sanctions remain in effect.
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President Biden was mocked on social media after appearing disoriented during a Veterans Day ceremony at the Arlington National Ceremony this weekend. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
“Mr. President, we now call on you to act quickly to remove Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list and help ordinary Cubans at this critical time. That is the only option the United States deserves, and we stands ready to support you and take part in this decision,” the letter concludes.
In January 2021, the U.S. State Department announced that it would designate Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, accusing it of providing a safe haven for malicious actors and conducting “malign activities” in the region. did.
This designation puts the Caribbean nation back on the list from the Ronald Reagan administration to the Barack Obama administration. In 2016, President Obama became the first US president to visit Cuba since 1928.
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President Obama became the first US president to visit Cuba since 1928. (Spencer Pratt/Getty Images)
The Obama administration attempted to normalize relations in 2015, but was met with resistance from President Trump, who recently claimed that Cuba was not cooperating on counterterrorism efforts.
State Department officials say Cuba has refused to extradite 10 suspects wanted in Colombia for the police academy bombing that killed 22 people and injured dozens. Authorities also accused Cuba of harboring several American fugitives, including João Chesimard, also known as Assata Shakur. She was convicted of murdering New Jersey State Police Officer Werner Foerster in 1973.
Former Obama adviser Ben Rhodes called on the Biden administration to reverse President Trump's decision in January 2021.
“The Biden administration should not be bound by the last-minute political expediency of authoritarian regimes that have recently sought to overthrow the democratically elected government of the United States,” Rose said on Twitter. “This decision should be reversed as soon as possible.”
