Biden moves to lift state sponsor of terrorism designation for Cuba, part of deal to free prisoners
Last edited Tue Jan 14, 2025, 03:44 PM - Edit history (1)
Source: AP
Updated 3:01 PM EST, January 14, 2025
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Tuesday is notifying Congress of its intent to lift the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, the White House announced, as part of a deal facilitated by the Catholic Church to free political prisoners on the island.
Senior U.S. administration officials, who previewed the announcement on the condition of anonymity, said ”many 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 U.S. would also ease some economic pressure on Cuba, as well as a 2017 memorandum issued by then-President Donald Trump toughening U.S. posture toward Cuba.
The determination by the outgoing one-term Democrat is likely to be reversed as early as next week after Trump, the Republican who is now president-elect, takes office and Secretary of State-designate Marco Rubio assumes the position of America’s top diplomat.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/biden-cuba-terrorism-designation-a0e2f003ce7100e6a845ef7ed6e96a1b
Biden is now poking at them.
Links to White House ANNOUNCEMENTS -
Certification of Rescission of Cuba’s Designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism
Message to the Congress on Transmitting a Report to the Congress with Respect to the Proposed Rescission of Cuba’s Designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism
Memorandum on the Revocation of National Security Presidential Memorandum 5
Letter to the Chairmen and Chair of Certain Congressional Committees on the Suspension of the Right to Bring an Action Under Title III of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996
Article updated.
Original article/headline -
Updated 2:07 PM EST, January 14, 2025
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Tuesday is expected to lift the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, according to U.S. officials familiar with matter.
The officials were not authorized to comment and insisted on anonymity to discuss the yet to be publicly announced move. White House National Security Council officials declined to comment on the matter.
The determination by the outgoing one-term Democrat is likely to be reversed as early as next week after President-elect Donald Trump, a Republican, takes office and incoming Secretary of State-designate Marco Rubio assumes the position of America’s top diplomat.
Rubio, whose family fled from Cuba in the 1950s before the communist revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power, has long been a proponent of sanctions on the communist island. Rubio will appear before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday for his confirmation hearing and is expected to address his Cuban roots in his testimony.
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