Biden administration to remove Cuba from state sponsor of terrorism list

The White House on Tuesday notified Congress that the administration will lift Cuba from the state sponsor of terrorism list, which will also lift sanctions imposed by President-elect Donald Trump during his first administration.

Cuba was first placed on the terrorism list in 1982, but was removed by former President Barack Obama in 2015. However, Trump placed the communist country back on the list in 2020 as he prepared to leave the White House, for allegedly harboring foreign and national fugitives, per The Hill.

The action to remove Cuba from the list again is connected to negotiations between Cuba and the Catholic Church that are expected to result the release of a "significant" number of political prisoners, according to Reuters. The prisoners were arrested for their participation in riots in 2021. 

The White House also noted that Cuba has not "provided any support for international terrorism during the preceding 6-month period," and "has provided assurances that it will not support acts of international terrorism in the future."

The move was blasted by Senate Republicans, including Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz, who vowed to work with the incoming Trump administration to reverse the order.

“Today’s decision is unacceptable on its merits,” Cruz said in a statement. “The terrorism advanced by the Cuban regime has not ceased ... Obama-Biden officials are continuing their legacy of closing out administrations with rank appeasement of the Cuban regime. They push these policies both because they believe in them and to undermine the incoming Trump administration and Republican Congress."

The actions come as President Joe Biden prepares to leave office. Trump will return to the White House on January 20.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.