Díaz-Balart Denounces the Biden-Harris Administration’s Betrayal of the Cuban People
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26) issued the following statement after the Biden-Harris Administration announced its reversal of President Trump’s policy toward Cuba.
Rep. Díaz-Balart said: “In a final betrayal to U.S. national security interests and the Cuban people in their struggle for freedom, the Biden-Harris Administration has gone out of its way in aiding and abetting the illegitimate, brutal Castro dictatorship by removing Cuba from the state sponsors of terrorism (SST) list, suspending the right of Americans whose property was stolen to sue in U.S. courts, and removing the prohibition on financial transactions with Cuban military.
"The Biden-Harris Administration removed Cuba from the SST list despite the Cuban regime’s continued harboring of terrorists and fugitives from U.S. justice, including its protection of FBI Top Ten Most Wanted Terrorist Joanne Chesimard, bombmaker William Morales, hijacker Charles Hill, and members of the terrorist group ELN. Additionally, the regime is allied with state sponsors of terrorism Iran and North Korea, maintains an extensive espionage network against the United States, and undermines U.S. national security interests at every opportunity. Meanwhile, reports indicate that Cuban nationals are fighting for Russia in Ukraine, “Havana Syndrome” continues to impair former and current U.S. personnel and their families, and Communist China is establishing spy bases on the island.
"Furthermore, with suspending Title III, the Biden-Harris administration has betrayed Americans whose properties were confiscated by the Castro regime, prohibiting those claimants from suing those who traffic in their stolen properties. In doing so, the Biden-Harris Administration has not only betrayed these claimants, but it has contributed to uncertainty in the courts and jeopardizing the rights of those who have waited decades to obtain justice.
"Most shocking of all, the Biden-Harris Administration decided to end the “Cuba Restricted List,” which listed over 200 entities of the Cuban military with which financial transactions were prohibited. That the Biden-Harris Administration would weaken sanctions imposed on the repressive Cuban military, which assists in suppressing dissent on the island, is unconscionable. That decision directly contravenes U.S. national security interests by directly enriching an avowed adversary, as well as thwarting longstanding U.S. policy to promote freedom and democracy.
"I am disgusted but not surprised by these final acts of betrayal to the security interests of the United States. These blatant affronts are just the latest failures and weaknesses that characterize the Biden-Harris Administration’s foreign policy. Clearly, there is no adversary that it will not seek to coddle and embolden. I look forward to the Trump Administration expeditiously righting these wrongs.”
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