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Democratic federal lawmakers from Massachusetts are calling on President Biden to remove Cuba from the State Sponsor of Terrorism (SSOT) list as shortly as potential.
In a letter addressed to the President, and signed by Reps. Ayanna Pressley, James P. McGovern, Seth Moulton, Lori Trahan and Stephen F. Lynch, in addition to Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey, the lawmakers suggested Biden that Cuba was eliminated from the SSOT list in 2015 by him after which President Obama after figuring out the designation was “without merit.”
The Trump administration positioned Cuba again on the list in January 2021, which in accordance to the Democratic lawmakers, was “a vindictive action” as he was leaving workplace.
The lawmakers mentioned the coverage is “overdue for change,” including that Cuba and the U.S. have been working collectively to counter terrorism.
US DESIGNATES CUBA STATE SPONSOR OF TERRORISM
An outdated American automotive passes by the US embassy in Havana on May 26, 2023. (YAMIL LAGE / AFP) (Photo by YAMIL LAGE/AFP by way of Getty Images)
“We believe the time to act and remove Cuba from the SSOT list is now – not months from now,” the letter reads. “There is no political or other policy argument that can justify the U.S. continuing to knowingly add to the suffering of the Cuban people.”
The letter explains that each one sectors of Cuban society are going through unabated hardships, which have pushed hundreds to abandon their houses and migrate to the U.S.
“It therefore runs counter to U.S. direct interests to continue the collective economic restrictions that result from Cuba remaining on the SSOT list,” the letter reads.
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Colombian president Gustavo Petro speaks to the media throughout Colombia’s regional elections in Bogota, October 29, 2023. (Sebastian Barros/NurPhoto by way of Getty Images)
Additionally, the lawmakers reminded Biden that Colombian President Gustavo Petro requested him to remove Cuba from the list to facilitate peace negotiations between Colombia’s authorities and the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas.
The President of Mexico additionally requested that Cuba’s designation be rescinded, the lawmakers famous.
“As a candidate for President, you promised to address re-engagement with Cuba and return to the policy begun during the Obama-Biden administration, and we supported you on this commitment,” the letter reads. “We recognize that much has changed in Cuba and in the United States since 2018, but two and a half years into your Presidency, the overwhelming number of sanctions put in place by your predecessor, including placing Cuba back on the SSOT list, remain in effect.
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President Biden was mocked on social media for appearing confused during the Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Ceremony this weekend. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
“We call on you now, Mr. President, to assist bizarre Cubans at this crucial time by performing swiftly to remove Cuba from the State Sponsor of Terrorism list. It is the one possibility worthy of the United States, and we stand prepared to help you on this determination,” the letter concluded.
In January 2021, the U.S. State Department announced the designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terror, accusing it of providing safe harbor to malicious actors and engaging in “malign conduct” in the region.
The designation returned the Caribbean nation to a list that it was on from Ronald Reagan’s administration and until that of Barack Obama. In 2016, Obama became the first U.S. president to visit Cuba since 1928.
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Obama became the first U.S. president to visit Cuba since 1928. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
The Obama administration attempted to normalize relations in 2015 but encountered resistance from President Trump, whose administration recently argued that Cuba had failed to cooperate on counterterrorism.
State Department officials said Cuba refused to extradite 10 suspects wanted in Colombia for a police academy bombing that killed 22 people and injured dozens more. Authorities also accused Cuba of harboring multiple American fugitives, including Joanne Chesimard, also known as Assata Shakur. She was convicted of killing New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster in 1973.
Former top Obama adviser Ben Rhodes called on the Biden administration to reverse Trump’s decision in January 2021.
“The Biden Administration mustn’t enable itself to be constrained by final minute political favors being accomplished by an authoritarian administration that just lately sought to overthrow the democratically elected U.S. authorities,” Rhodes tweeted. “This determination ought to be reversed as quickly as potential.”
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