Cuba’s addition to the State Sponsors of Terrorism (SSOT) list – in the waning days of the Trump administration – was politically motivated and has no national security justification. Given the negative impact on the well-being of the Cuban people, the Biden administration must be pushed to remove Cuba from the SSOT list now.

NO BASIS FOR CUBA’S INCLUSION 

Cuba was included on the list because it “refused Colombia’s request to extradite 10 ELN (National Liberation Army) leaders living in Havana” and because it “harbors U.S. fugitives.”

Regarding the Colombia claim:

• Cuba was hosting peace talks between the Colombian government and ELN – the ELN negotiators were granted safe haven as part of the peace process
• Even the State Department admits Cuba’s extradition refusal was due to “peace negotiation protocols” and that Colombia subsequently dropped the extradition requests
• Colombian President Gustavo Petro characterized the original extradition request as “a betrayal of previous agreements signed in the form of protocols with Colombia, Cuba and Norway.”

Regarding U.S. fugitives:

• Failing to extradite U.S. citizens on criminal charges has never been used as justification for placing a country on the SSOT list, aside from Cuba
• Cuba’s issuance of asylum to U.S. fugitives does not meet the statutory definition for sponsoring terror laid out by the three laws the define international terror

The Cuban government engaged in talks with the U.S. on law enforcement cooperation in January 2023, sent a Border Guard delegation to visit the U.S. in March 2023 and held talks with the U.S. on anti-terror measures in April 2023. Would the U.S. do all this with a real sponsor of terror?

• Cuba’s inclusion “risks delegitimizing what should be a tool that is used to punish actual state sponsors of terrorism” – former Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes
• Migration: CBP encounters of Cubans at the U.S.-Mexico border increased by 274% in the year after the SSOT designation
• Citizens from 40+ countries traveling to Cuba are ineligible for US visa waivers, depressing Cuban tourism, which is the biggest private sector employer
• 30+ financial institutions left Cuba within weeks of SSOT listing, severely limiting banking options for Cubans and organizations working in Cuba
• U.S. and international NGOs working in Cuba have had their funds frozen and shipment of humanitarian supplies blocked
• Cubans living abroad have had bank accounts frozen and transfers blocked, including remittances
• Universities in certain US states are impeded in doing research on Cuba
• Companies have refused to sell medical supplies to Cuba
• Cuban entrepreneurs and the private sector face obstacles in access to financing and reduced demand
• E-commerce platforms stopped offering services
• Cuban small businesses had bank accounts canceled in the US

BROKEN PROMISES?

In his 2020 campaign, President Biden promised he “would go back” to the Obama policy of engagement. His incoming administration then “pledged to Congress” it would start the process of removing Cuba from the SSOT list, even telling members of Congress that the review was ongoing. In December 2023, three years after these promises were made, The Intercept reported that the review process has not even begun!

In December 2021, 114 members of Congress – the majority of House Democrats – called on President Biden to “remove Cuba from the list.” Since that time, other Congressional letters criticized the designation as “baseless” and “vindictive”. As voters, we welcome this leadership and ask that Congress do more. According to the Congressional Research Service, Cuba could be de-listed in as little as 45 days. Now is the time to demand action from the White House!