US Progressive Democrats Stand Behind Cuba Trip

Two Democratic lawmakers who recently visited Cuba are pushing back against criticism from Republicans. They are urging President Joe Biden’s administration to ease restrictions on relations with the Communist-ruled island.

Representatives Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., and Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who are chair and deputy chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, traveled to Cuba from Feb. 19-22.

Republicans have accused them of sympathizing with Cuba’s communist government. Representative Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., labeled them as “The Congressional Communist Sympathizing Caucus,” while Representative Mike Waltz, R-Fla., suggested they went to Cuba to learn more about communism.

Jayapal dismissed these claims as “ridiculous” and highlighted that agriculture secretaries from various U.S. states, including Republican-led ones, were also in Havana at the same time.

In their first interview about the trip, Jayapal and Omar emphasized the importance of engaging with Cuba and supporting the reforms the Cuban government is working on.

During their visit, Jayapal and Omar met with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, other officials, community leaders, and relatives of individuals imprisoned for protesting against the government.

While the two representatives are more progressive than some Democratic leaders, they play significant roles within the party, especially during this election year as Biden addresses progressives’ concerns on various issues.

Cuba-U.S. relations remain a divisive political topic, particularly in Florida, where many Cuban-Americans support strict sanctions against the country.

Former President Donald Trump reversed the detente with Cuba initiated by former President Barack Obama in 2014. This move appealed to Florida voters in both the 2016 and 2020 elections.

Biden had promised to reverse harmful policies on Cuba but has not made significant changes yet. The current economic crisis in Cuba has led to a large exodus of Cubans and increased undocumented immigration to the United States.

Supporters of sanctions blame Havana for its closed economy and human rights violations, while critics argue that easing restrictions could improve the lives of ordinary Cubans without changing the government.

Omar emphasized the need for updated policies that benefit both the U.S. and the Cuban people, rather than relying on outdated approaches.