May 2024 – dwkcommentaries

Congressional Reactions to New U.S. Regulations on Cuban Private Sector

Differing opinions on the new U.S. regulations regarding the Cuban private business sector have come from Congress.[1]

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (Rep, FL) apparently said the new regulations are U.S. “concessions” reflecting Biden “desperation” and are “deeply worrying. Cuba’s ‘private sector’ is a façade that enriches the Castro and Díaz-Canel regime, as demonstrated by the failed commitments during the . . [Obama] administration.”

Several analysts reportedly agree that such enterprises are a mechanism of Cuban power to use such enterprises to evade U.S. embargo regulations. According to Rubio, “Any financial aid to this vile regime only encourages further repression and anti-American attacks.”

Democratic Representative Barbara Lee (California) disagrees. She thanked President Biden “for the steps to support Cuban entrepreneurs,” who “deserve the opportunity to grow their businesses and provide for their families.” According to Congresswoman Lee, these businessmen would suffer “harassment” from the governments of both Cuba and the United States.

She also said, “After more than six decades, the [U.S.] embargo is causing immense suffering without bringing any positive change in Cuba” and it is long past time to leave the “failed embargo” behind and to “completely” normalize relations with (the Government) of Cuba.

Concurring opinions were expressed by Representative James McGovern (Dem. Mass) who said he has “met many small and medium-sized business owners and I know that these changes will help them carry out basic financial transactions.” He added, the Biden Administration “must continue taking these positive steps—particularly removing the Cuban (regime) from the list of state sponsors of terrorism and working toward the normalization of diplomatic relations between both countries.”

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[1] ‘Concessions to the regime’ or ‘support for entrepreneurs’: U.S. politicians in the face of Biden’s new measures, Diario de Cuba (May 30, 2024).

Cuban Government’s Reactions to New U.S. Regulations for Cuban Private Enterprise

On May 28, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a formal Statement about the new U.S. regulations and then held a separate press conference on that topic. Later Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel made a statement on that subject.

Cuba Ministry of Foreign Affairs Statement[1]

“On May 28, the Government of the United States finally announced a group of measures aimed at implementing the policy announced on May 16, 2022. The purpose of this step, according to the text published by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), is to support the private sector in Cuba.”
“These measures are limited in scope and do not target the essence of the blockade against Cuba nor the additional sanctions that make up the maximum pressure policy. Once again, this US government decision relies on its own distorted view of the Cuban reality, for it intends to artificially separate the private sector from the public sector, when they are both part of Cuba’s entrepreneurial system and the Cuban society as a whole.”
“With this announcement, the US government intends to address only one sector of our population. The coercive measure that most affect Cuba’s economy and public services and severely harm the wellbeing of our population are neither eradicated nor modified.”
“If these measures are implemented, the United States would seek to give advantage to the Cuban private sector, which was lawfully established and has been able to develop thanks to the measures taken, as a sovereign act, by the Cuban government in consultation with the Cuban people.”
“So has occurred with the access to the Internet, which was established and expanded by Cuba, despite the obstacles resulting from the blockade and the restrictions imposed to prevent free access to hundreds of tools and websites.”
“The Government of the United States has been explicit in its intention to use this sector for political purposes against the Revolution, in the interest of its change of regime policy.”
“Even if these measures were about a whimsical selectivity, both the private and the public sector will continue to suffer from the consequences of the blockade and the absurd inclusion of Cuba in the list of States that allegedly sponsor terrorism.”
“The coercive measures that are part of the economic blockade will remain in force, with their cruel impact on the entire Cuban population.”
“Obviously, the United States is ratifying its willingness to punish Cuba’s state sector, knowing that this is the one that offers essential services such as education, health, culture, sports and others to all Cubans, including the private sector; and that it is the guarantee of social justice and equity among all citizens. That is the reason why the US government recently adopted measures aimed at persecuting Cuba’s international medical cooperation. Several published documents have revealed that the US remains determined to depriving us from our revenues and destabilizing the country with the political purpose of dominating our nation.”
“The Cuban government will analyze these measures, and if they do not infringe upon our national legislation, and they are in fact an openness that would benefit the Cuban people, even if only one sector, it will not impede its implementation.”

Cuban Press Conference About New Regulations[2]

On May 28, Johana Tablada, the deputy director general of the United States at the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held a press conference regarding the new U.S. regulations about the Cuban private enterprise sector.

She said they “do not touch the body of the [U.S. embargo] blockade nor do they modify the extreme measures and regulations applied by the Trump and Biden governments in recent years. “once again, the United States Government tries to adapt its actions not to the reality of Cuba, but to a fiction that has been built on the reality of Cuba. ”

She stressed that the US Administration tries to separate the Cuban private sector from the public sector through its announcements and strategies and ignores that both sectors make up the fabric of the Cuban business system and society as a whole. This U.S. effort is about privileging a private sector that does not owe anything to the United States.

She also said Cuba will study these measures and, if they mean a real opening and are not just a political announcement, the [Cuban] Government will not put brakes on their implementation. But since Cuba is included in the list of countries that supposedly sponsor terrorism, it is very difficult for the measures announced this Tuesday to be applied in their full scope.

President Diaz-Canel’s Statement[3]

On May 29, Diaz-Canel said, the US measures are “limited, restrictive and do not touch the fundamental body of the blockade against our country, nor the other sanctions of its maximum pressure policy.”

“The intention to direct them only to a segment of our people shows their historical intention to fracture unity among Cubans.”

“The concern for the development of the non-state sector of our economy is not genuine.”

“They do not eliminate or change the coercive measures that most affect the Cuban economy and public services, thereby severely damaging the well-being of our entire population today.”

” We will continue to promote the increasing integration of all our economic actors, which today are, together, a cornerstone for our development and progrss towards the well-being of all our people.”

Comments

Both the U.S. and Cuba agree that the new Treasury Department regulations leave unchanged the U.S. embargo (blockade) of the island and the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism. Cuba, of course, wants those measures eliminated while the U.S. merely assumed that they would continue. As a U.S. citizen, this blogger wants to see them eliminated and suggests that the U.S. use this opportunity to engage Cuba in discussions about doing just that while remembering that President Obama had discontinued the terrorism designation.[4]

The U.S. and Cuba also could have discussions about how to encourage the best operations of the latter’s new private enterprise sector. Given the horrendous current status of the Cuban economy, Cuba should welcome such discussions and be open to significant changes on those issues.

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[1] Statement of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, There is only one Cuba (May 29, 2024); Cuban Foreign Minister affirms that measures announced by the US are limited, Granma (May 29, 2024).

[2] Minrex: The new US regulations continue to be limited and do not touch the body of the blockade, CubaDebate (May 28, 2024).

[3] Diaz-Canel, The integration of all economic actors will be increasingly greater, Granma (May 30, 2024); US measures for MSMEs ‘respond to a subversive design’, says Diaz-Canel, Diario de Cuba (Mau 29, 2024).

[4 ]President Obama Rescinds U.S. Designation of Cuba as a “State Sponsor of Terrorism,” dwkcommentaries.com (April 15, 2015); U.S. Rescinds Designation of Cuba as a “State Sponsor of Terrorism,” dwkcommentaries.com (May 29. 2015),

More Reactions to New U.S. Regulations for Cuban Private Enterprise

On May 28, 2024, the U.S. Department of State held a Special Briefing on the Treasury Department’s new regulations on Cuban private enterprise.

First there were comments by three unnamed Senior Officials. Then there was Q&A with members of the press.[1]

Comments by Senior Officials

Senior Official One said, this development was “an important step to support the expansion of free enterprise and of . . . the entrepreneurial business sector in Cuba. . . . [We] recognize that this is a growing and dynamic sector of economic activity in Cuba, where people are gaining greater independence from the state, and we felt that it was essential as part of the Biden administration’s Cuba policy to ensure that this sector continues to expand and is supported.”

“We believe that the growth of an independent entrepreneurial private sector in Cuba is fully aligned with our values, is the best hope for generating economic development and employment in Cuba, and the growth of this sector is also consistent with the President’s guidance to implement measures that will benefit the Cuban people while continuing to minimize resources to the Cuban Government.”

“[P]roviding this support for Cuba’s private sector will help to stem irregular migration from the island by creating more economic opportunity on the island. It further allows Cuba to be self-sufficient without relying on their government for all of their daily necessities.

Senior Official Two added, “We know the Cuban economy is in dire straits. Amid recurring shortages of fuel, electricity, and increasingly even food, it’s clear the communist experiment in Cuba has failed and the government is no longer able to provide for its citizens’ most basic needs. In a country where there are no free elections, the Cuban people are voting with their feet, including by using dangerous irregular migration routes.”

“With over 11,000 private businesses registered – operating in diverse fields from food distribution, to construction, to auto repair – Cuba’s private sector is now responsible for nearly one-third of all employment on the island.”

“These changes have profoundly affected Cuban culture. Young Cubans are eager to earn private sector wages rather than work for the state. A class of independent business leaders is emerging. I know this because our team, including myself – both in Havana and in Washington – meets with these individuals. These entrepreneurs look to the United States for inspiration and to develop the necessary skills to run successful businesses. In an acute twist of irony, the island’s communist government must now rely on private enterprise to provide food and basic services for its people. It’s not an easy road for these entrepreneurs. The Cuban Government’s mismanagement of its economy has led to unparalleled high inflation. But because it is more nimble and efficient than the government, the private sector currently serves as a life preserver for the Cuban people without which they could not stay afloat. We believe the organic expansion of the private sector and evolution of the digital economy on the island – led by the Cuban people themselves, and not by any foreign government – is critical.”

“Above all, we must encourage the freedom of Cuban citizens to define their own economic future. Cuban entrepreneurs prefer U.S. values and our economic model and see the United States as their business partner of choice. We are focused on taking measures that inject a real sense of hope among the Cuban people and stem the tide of worsening humanitarian and migration conditions – all while remaining steadfast and promoting accountable for the Cuban’s Government’s continued abuses.”

Senior Official Three: “[These] updates to the regulations . . . support two priority policy goals: First, we wanted to increase support for the internet freedom in Cuba, but also increase economic support for the Cuban population. On internet freedom, we’ve added examples of authorized internet services and made updates to allow U.S. companies to provide services to install, repair, or replace certain items. So for example, some of the additional services that are now authorized include social media platforms, collaboration platforms, video conferencing, e-gaming and e-learning platforms, automated translation, web maps, and user authentication services.”

“[We] redefined the term ‘self-employed individual’ to ‘independent private sector entrepreneur’ to better reflect the types of individuals and entities that operate in the Cuban private sector. This new definition includes not only the definition of self-employed individual from our old regulations, but also includes private sector businesses, and private cooperatives, and sole proprietorships of up to 100 individuals – and this also includes farms.”

“By the latest count, there are over 11,000 registered private businesses in Cuba. It’s important to note that the new definition for independent private sector entrepreneurship excludes prohibited officials of the Cuban Government, such as the national assembly members, Cuban military officers, or certain ministry and staff regime propagandists, and prohibited members of the Cuban Communist Party. For a Cuban private sector business to qualify under this definition, its ownership cannot include such insiders.”

“[We] will also allow Cuban independent private sector entrepreneurs to establish and remotely access U.S. bank accounts, including through online payment platforms, to conduct authorized or exempt transactions. This will help facilitate independent private sector entrepreneurs in Cuba, importing food, equipment, and other goods that support the Cuban people. Third, to help facilitate remittances in payments for authorized transactions, including authorized transactions to and from the Cuban private sector, we have also reinstated authorization to allow U-turn transactions. These are funds transactions which start and end outside the United States but pass through the U.S. financial system, and they are a common occurrence in international commerce.”

“[Our] Cuba sanctions remain in place and the regulations continue to maintain restrictions on the Cuban Government and its military, intelligence, and security services. Today’s action is about support for greater freedom and expanded opportunities for the Cuban people.”

Responses to Questions

“On May 15^th the State Department determined that “Cuba’s continued certification as a not fully cooperation country [on terrorism] was no longer appropriate [and therefore terminated that designation].

Cuba, however, remains a State Sponsor of Terrorism under U.S. law, which “establishes a specific statutory criteria for rescinding the SST designations, and any review of Cuba’s status on the SST list would be based on the law and the criteria established by Congress.”

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[1] U.S. State Dep’t, Senior Administration Officials on the Cuba OFAC Rollout (May 28, 2024).

Other Reactions to New Treasury Department Regulations on Cuba Private Enterprise

A senior official of the Biden Administration said that it is “essential” for the Biden administration to make sure the private sector continues to expand on the island to encourage Cubans to become self-sufficient and more independent from the government. The official also said the policy would help to stem migration from the island and counter actions by other nations, hinting at Russia, which Cuban authorities tapped to help them manage the private sector on the island. ‘Providing support for Cuba’s private sector will help to stem irregular migration from the island by creating more economic opportunity,’ the official said. ‘We believe that engaging in support of Cuba’s independent private sector will ensure that these important continental actors are supported by the United States and make it more difficult for other state actors who wish to engage economically in Cuba only in support of the government and without supporting the private and entrepreneurial sector.’”

Now “Cuban software developers to have their apps available for download on the Apple or Google app stores.”

Another administration official observed, “In light of the ‘dire straits’ of the Cuban economy, it’s clear the communist experiment in Cuba has failed and the government is no longer able to provide for its citizens‘most basic needs in a country where there are no free elections.”

“The Cuban private sector has rapidly expanded since it was first allowed in 2021, and there are now more than 10,000 small and medium enterprises, employing a third of all Cuban workers. Because the government is almost bankrupt amid a severe economic crisis, the private sector has taken roles previously unthinkable in a communist island that once banned all private property. These enterprises, known by their acronym mipymes in Spanish, have become major importers of food and other necessities in the midst of the widespread scarcity. They have become significant suppliers of the flour that state-owned bakeries need to produce bread for the public.”

“’We can congratulate the Biden administration on its commitment to helping civil society,’ said former Congressman Joe García, who has pushed to step up U.S. support to private businesses on the island. ‘These new small independent players perhaps offer the only option for helping the Cuban people.’

Ric Herrero, the executive director of the Cuban Study Group, a Washington-based organization that provides training and support to Cuban independent entrepreneurs, said on X that the ‘excessive delay’ in publishing the regulations ‘due to congressional extortion tactics has caused undue harm to independent Cuban entrepreneurs and to efforts to expand internet access in Cuba.’

John Kavulich, the president of the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council, said ‘the measures are a step in the right direction but don’t go far enough in regularizing banking transactions. While Cuban entrepreneurs can operate their U.S. accounts, it will be difficult for them to transfer money from and to their accounts using Cuban banks because there are no direct banking relations between the two countries.”

Kavulich also said, “While useful for the Biden-Harris Administration to …authorize entrepreneurs to have bank accounts in the United States, there remains one glaring omission — the continuing prohibition upon direct correspondent banking. As long as financing, investment, and payments need to be routed through third countries, the Biden-Harris Administration will be constraining precisely the activity it professes to support.”

Pedro A. Freyre, a lawyer and chairman of international practice at a major law firm in Miami, said, “the new regulations will provide more clarity regarding the private sector.” Nevertheless, the U.S. continuation of the terrorism designation [for Cuba] “has a chilling effect and banks engage in overcompliance.”

Aldo Alvarez, a lawyer based in Havana who runs a private food wholesale business, said, “This announcement is very positive for the Cuban private sector, since it allows it to legally operate its payments collections in the U.S.”

Criticism of the new regulations came from U.S. Representatives Carlos Gimenez and Maria Elvira Salazar, both Republicans from Florida.\

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Adams, Biden Moves to Open U.S. Banks to Cuba’s Private Sector, N.Y. Times (May 28, 2024); DeYoung, Biden administration eases some economic restrictions on Cuba, Wash. Post (May 28, 2024); Torres, In a first, Cuba’s private business owners will be able to use U.S. banks, Treasury says, Miami Herald, (updated 3:15 pm, May 28, 2024).

U.S. Treasury Department Issues New Regulations To Promote Cuba’s Private Business Owners

On May 28, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that it has prepared new regulations “to increase support for the Cuban people [that} update and clarify authorizations in support of internet-based services to promote internet freedom in Cuba, support independent Cuban private sector entrepreneurs, and expand access to certain financial services for the Cuban people.”[1]

These new regulations “update and clarify the scope of authorized internet-based services, including by adding examples of authorized services incident to the exchange of communications over the internet and updating the authorization for services in support of such communication. Additional examples of authorized services include social media platforms, collaboration platforms, video conferencing, e-gaming and e-learning platforms, automated translation, web maps, and user authentication services. [They are] also clarifying that persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction may provide cloud-based services (including remote data storage, data transport service, content distribution networks, virtual machines, software-as-a-service, and infrastructure-as-a-service) to support services incident to the exchange of communications over the internet.”

The new regulations also “expand the authorization for services, including training, to install, repair, or replace items related to communication, or items used to develop software that improves the free flow of information or that will support private sector activities in Cuba consistent with the export or reexport licensing policy of the Department of Commerce, including by removing the requirement that referenced items fall within specific export control classification parameters. [They also are] further authorizing the export or reexport of Cuban-origin software and mobile applications from the United States to third countries, which will expand the ability for independent Cuban entrepreneurs to offer their software and mobile applications on global application stores.”

The new regulations add a “new term ‘independent private sector entrepreneur.’ The new term continues to include self-employed individuals, such as owners or employees of private businesses or sole proprietorships, but the amended definition now also includes private cooperatives or small private businesses that are wholly owned by or consisting solely of such individuals. In each case, the new term is limited to private cooperatives, small private businesses, and sole proprietorships located in Cuba of up to 100 employees. The amended definition better reflects Cuba’s non-state sector, as Cuba now authorizes the establishment of small- and medium-sized private enterprises. Finally, [the Department] is excluding prohibited Cuban officials and prohibited Cuban Communist Party members from the new term to ensure they do not take advantage of U.S. actions intended to benefit independent private sector entrepreneur.”

The new regulations authorize “independent private sector entrepreneurs who are Cuban nationals to open, maintain, and remotely use U.S. bank accounts, including through online payment platforms, to conduct authorized or exempt transactions, whether the independent private sector entrepreneur is physically located in the United States, Cuba, or another country.”

The new regulations reinstate “authorization for ‘U-turn’ transactions, which are funds transfers that originate and terminate outside the United States where neither the originator nor beneficiary is subject to U.S. jurisdiction. [The Department] previously removed the authorization for ‘U-turn’ transactions in September 2019. This reinstated authorization is intended to help the Cuban people, including independent private sector entrepreneurs, by facilitating remittances and payments for transactions in the Cuban private sector that are authorized by various provisions of the [regulations]. Under this reinstated authorization, U.S banks are authorized to process ‘U-turn’ funds transfers in which Cuba or a Cuban national has an interest, provided that neither the originator nor the beneficiary is a person subject to U.S. jurisdiction.”

Finally the new regulations authorize “the unblocking and return of any ‘U-turn’ funds transfer that was blocked prior to this reinstatement of the ‘U-turn authorization.”

A senior U.S. official “said that it was ‘essential’ for the Biden administration to make sure the private sector continues to expand on the island.”

Reactions

This is great news! Cuba’s private sector is helping ordinary Cubans cope with the extraordinary problems of the Cuban economy.

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[1] U.S. Treasury Dep’t, Treasury Amends Regulations to Increase Support for the Cuban People and Independent Private Sector Entrepreneurs (May 28, 2024); Torres, In a first, Cuba’s private business owners will be able to use U.S. banks, Miami Herald (May 28, 2024).

Cubans Ask for Acceleration of U.S. Humanitarian Parole Process

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has adopted a program for certain nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to come to the U.S. for “a temporary period of parole for up to two years for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.”[1]

Requirements for Such Parole

The requirements for such “foreign nationals” are the following:

They “are outside the United States and lack U.S. entry documents;”
“They have a [financial] supporter in the United States . . . who agrees to provide them with financial support for the duration of their parole in the United States;”
They “undergo and clear robust security vetting;”
They “meet other eligibility criteria;” and
They “warrant a favorable exercise of discretion.”

According to the U.S. Department, “Case processing times vary. USCIS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are reviewing and processing cases as thoroughly and efficiently as possible. The U.S. government will provide advance travel authorization for up to 30,000 noncitizens to come to the United States each month to seek parole on a case-by-case basis under these processes.”

“Due to high interest in these processes, we are updating this process because the number of supporters who have submitted Form I-134A is significantly higher than the 30,000 monthly advance travel authorizations available. It is intended to maintain a fair, equitably balanced, and available pathway for all beneficiaries of a Form I-134A to move forward through the review process and seek travel authorization.”

“Under the new review process, we will randomly select about half of the monthly total of Forms I-134A, regardless of filing date, from the entire pending workload to review. We will review the other half of the monthly total based on when the case was submitted under the first-in, first-out method, which prioritizes the oldest Forms I-134A for review.”

“During the process, several steps must be completed, including robust security vetting, which will depend on action taken by potential supporters and beneficiaries. In the initial part of the process, we will review and provide responses to the potential supporter’s Form I-134A as quickly as possible. Once we confirm the Form I-134A, we will contact the beneficiary via email with instructions on how to create a USCIS online account and add their case. In the online account, the beneficiary reviews their biographical information and completes the necessary attestations (including attestations for eligibility and vaccine requirements) for themselves and travel group members and submits the information to CBP.”

“The beneficiary must also take and submit their photo within the CBP One mobile app. After they submit their photo, the process transitions to CBP. CBP will vet available biographic information and the facial photograph to determine whether to authorize the beneficiary’s travel to the United States to seek parole. CBP will then send the travel authorization determination to USCIS to post it to the beneficiary’s USCIS online account. If CBP approves the travel authorization, the beneficiary is responsible for arranging and funding their own airline travel to the United States. If CBP approves travel authorization, it is generally valid for 90 days.”

Current Status of Cuban Applications for Such Parole[2]

Through the end of April 2024, 95,500 Cubans had been granted such parole, and 91,100 already have traveled to the U.S. on such parole.

However, there already are many more such Cuban applications, and on May 26, 2024, there was a demonstration in Miami by Cuban American families protesting the long periods of time for U.S. government action on such pending applications. In addition, in the first quarter of 2024, 10,446 Cuban irregular immigrants were intercepted in Mexico and returned to Cuba.

Conclusion

As always, comments with corrections and amplifications are always welcome.

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[1] U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans; U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, Frequently Asked Questions About the Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans.

[2] Cuban families ask in Miami for the acceleration of humanitarian parole process, Diario de Cuba (May 27, 2024).

George Floyd’s Uncle Speaks Out About His Nephew’s Murder

Four years after George Floyd’s murder on a Minneapolis street under the knee of Derek Chauvin, then a Minneapolis police officer, George’s uncle, Selwyn Jones, spoke about what everyone can now do about that horrible event: “Get moving, brotha. A lot of people are going, ‘OK, what do we do?’ Do something. Do something. Use this for fuel, so it’ll never happen to anybody else again.” [1]

Selwyn Jones has been doing just that.

He has met with “mothers, fathers, siblings and friends of others who have lost loved ones to police brutality and violence” to advocate for them in various ways.

“In [April 2024], he spoke at Harvard to advocate for the passage of the Medical Civil Rights Act, a bill in Massachusetts that would establish a right to emergency medical care during police interactions. . . [That Act] would basically state that if somebody yells, ‘I can’t breathe, my back hurts, my head hurts,’ you have to restrain them … and get them medical assistance in a timely fashion. So that watching my nephew with [Chauvin] with a knee on his neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds, then another 10 minutes until the [paramedics arrived], you would be [criminally] charged for that.”

Jones also said that it is important to remember the lives affected by George Floyd’s absence. He has done just that by staying in touch with Floyd’s daughter, now 10 years old. And Jones offered his own way of doing this by this statement: “I remember the good days, you know? I remember hanging out with him. I still remember his life. I still have the phone where I can look at it and see where he last texted me, ‘Happy Birthday, Unc,’ four years ago.”

Myron Medcalf, a StarTribune columnist, also has done that by writing the column summarized above.

This blogger as a retired lawyer has remembered the lives affected by George Floyd’s absence by researching and writing blog posts supporting the four criminal cases against Chauvin and the other policemen who were involved in that murder (Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng).[2]

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[1] Medcalf, Medcalf: George Floyd’s uncle speaks out 4 years after his nephew’s murder, StarTribune (May 25, 2024).

[2] See List of Posts to dwkcommentaries—Topical: George Floyd Killing. The only such case still pending is Derek Chauvin’s lawsuit to vacate his federal court conviction for the Floyd murder, which was stayed indefinitely in light of the serious injuries Chauvin sustained in prison until the court issued an order of March 29, 2024, order lifting the stay and imposing a deadline of June 27, 2024, for Chauvin’s filing papers in support of his motion to vacate his federal conviction. (Order, U.S. v. Chauvin, Case no. 21-108(1), U.S. Dist. Ct. (D. Minn. Mar. 29, 2024).

U.S. State Department Publishes Reviewed and Updated Integrated Country Strategy for Cuba

On May 10, 2024, the U.S. State Department published a Reviewed and Updated Integrated Country Strategy for Cuba (and other countries in the world). For Cuba It listed the following Chief of Mission Priorities: (1) Ensuring Consistent American Citizen Services; (2) Supporting Human Rights; (3) Encouraging an Empowered, Innovative, and Inclusive Cuban Society; (4) Protecting the Security of the United States and its Citizens; and (5) Building a Management Platform to Best Support U.S. goals and Future Mission Growth.[1]

Supporting Human Rights (Cuba)

“A generational transition to a post-Cuban Revolution leadership has failed to create significant changes: the Cuban government continues to use repressive measures, including incarceration, coercive economic policies, and misinformation to suppress the Cuban peoples’ freedoms. Approximately 1,000 political prisoners remain unjustly imprisoned in Cuba. Cuban authorities regularly harass, imprison, or force into exile those who express dissenting opinions.”

“In an environment where the state has criminalized dissent, the embassy continuously seeks to advance the cause of human rights in Cuba and hold the Cuban government accountable for its dismal human rights record. The Mission engages regularly with human rights activists, dissidents, and members of civil society, and we will continue to support independent media, access to information, and capacity building for independent civil society organizations. Additionally. the Embassy regularly presses the Cuban government for the release of political prisoners and works with the press and nongovernmental organizations to shed light on the lack of fundamental freedoms in Cuba.”

Encouraging an Empowered, Innovative, and Inclusive Cuban Society

“Cuba is experiencing the worst economic crisis in its history. Food scarcity, electricity and water shortages, and inflation make life difficult for Cubans. Incremental reforms of Cuba’s centrally planned economy – including the legal recognition of micro, small, and medium enterprises – have been insufficient to align Cuba’s economic needs with the realities of doing business in a global economy. The Embassy will continue to seek new ways to engage Cuba’s independent economic actors, foster Cuba’s entrepreneurial eco-system, while expanding outreach to improve the economic outlook for Afro- Cubans, women, and other historically disadvantaged groups.”

Reactions

These two Chief of Mission Priorities are worthy of support. It, however, was surprising at first glance that there was no mention of the problems created for Cuba by the U.S. embargo and listing Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism. But those are U.S. actions in Washington, D.C. by the President, Congress and State Department; they are not actions for the U.S. Embassy in Cuba.

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[1] State Dep’t, Integrated Country Strategies, Reviewed and Updated (May 10, 2024). It, therefore, supersedes the Department’s Integrated Country Strategy for Cuba (and other countries in the world) that was undated but released in February 2024 and that was discussed in a prior post, U.S. State Department’s Integrated Country Strategy for Cuba, dwkcommentaries.com (Feb. 16, 2024).

Cuba Reiterates Its Demand That the U.S. Stop Listing Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism

The Cuban Foreign Ministry has reiterated its demand for the U.S. to stop listing Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism.[1] This list, according to the Foreign Ministry,“is an absolutely unilateral and unfounded list, whose only purpose is to slander and serve as a pretext for the adoption of coercive economic measures against sovereign states, such as those ruthlessly applied against Cuba.”

“The clear and absolute truth is that Cuba does not sponsor terrorism, but has been a victim of it, including State terrorism. . . . [The U.S. and its agencies] are well aware of that fact and of the extraordinary damage caused to the Cuban economy by the measures, actions and the intimidating effect that is automatically unleashed against any State that appears on the list.”

The demand to end this listing “is loud and reiterated, on the part not only the Cuban people and numerous governments, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean, but also political, social and religious organizations within . . . the United States itself and several politicians from that country.”

“It is not enough [for the U.S.] to recognize that Cuba cooperates fully with the United States,” as it just has done.

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[1] Declaration of Cuba Ministry of Foreign Relations (May 16, 2024); Cuba States That Its Cooperation Against Terrorism Invalidates Finding That Cuba Is a State Sponsor of Terrorism, dwkcommentaries.com (May 18, 2024); U.S. Churches and Religious Groups Demand Ending of U.S. Designation of Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, dwkcommentaries.som (May 19, 2024)

U.S. Churches and Religious Groups Demand Ending of U.S. Designation of Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism

In a May 9, 2024, letter to the U.S. Department of State 20 U.S. churches and religious groups called for the U.S. to end its designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism.[1] This letter made the following points:

“We write to express our deep concern regarding the plight of the Cuban people. The combined effects of failed U.S. foreign policies and Cuban economic policies have created dire humanitarian conditions on the island.”
“Among these are widespreadshortages of food and medicine, as well as a critical lack of energy resulting in near-daily power outages across Cuba. Hospitals are in special need of relief, as medical supplies of all kinds are critically short.”
“In addition, economic desperation has been a major factor in a recent and unprecedented surge in migration from Cuba to other countries. While these include Spain and other nations in Spanish-speaking Latin America, far and away the principal destination has been the United States. Since 2021, more than 500,000 Cubans have sought refuge in the U.S., a figure approximating 5% of the island nation’s population.”
The U.S. decision to list Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism “was a gross mistake and has had a hugely detrimental effect on the Cuban people and the ability of our partners to serve them.” More specifically, the listing “has led banks, financial institutions and international suppliers to withdraw support for regular trade and collaboration with religious groups providing humanitarian aid to Cuba.”
“As a result, the ability ofour denominations and faith-based organizations to offer crucial assistance and financial aid to Cuban partners has been severely limited, with financial institutions freezing funds allocated for religious and humanitarian activities.”
“The current U.S. policy of strangling Cuban society with an economic embargo to force them to overthrow their government is morally unacceptable and antithetical to our faith, as well as (to) basic human rights principles.”
“We urge you to remove Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list and take steps toward ending the economic embargo and normalizing relations with Cuba. Let us stand together to relieve the suffering of the Cuban people, help them to prosper in their own country, and seek to include them fully in the family of nations.” (Emphasis added.)

The Signers of the Letter

The signers of this letter were the National Council of Churches, Church World Service, Pax Christi USA, Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church (USA), United Church of Christ, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), United Methodist Church, Mennonite Central Committee U.S., Friends Committee on National Legislation, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Church of the Brethren, the Alliance of Baptists, American Baptist Home Mission Societies and Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America.

Conclusion

As a member of Minneapolis’ Westminster Presbyterian Church, which belongs to the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) denomination and which has partnerships with a Presbyterian-Reformed Cuban church and a related Cuban seminary,[2] I am pleased to see that our denomination is one of the signers of this letter, and its statement about this letter referred to its “ties to the Cuban religious communities and the Cuban people” and stated that we have “deep concern for the effects that current U.S. policy is having across Cuba – on our Cuban partners and the general population. . . . In particular, the continued listing of Cuba on the State Sponsors of Terrorism (SST) list has led to great suffering among our Cuban partners and the Cuban people. We urge you to remove Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list and seek a path toward normalization in our nation’s relationship with the Cuban people and government.” (Emphasis added.)

I concur.

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[1] Baptist News Global, Church bodies press Biden on Cuba, (May 13, 2024).;PCUSA Joins 20 faith groups calling for Cuba to be taken off State Sponsors of Terrorism List, (March 13, 2023 [sic].

[2] See, e.g., these posts to dwkcommentaries.com: Minneapolis Westminster Presbyterian Church’ Connections with Cuba (Jan. 13, 2015); The Ridiculous U.S. Designation of Cuba as a “State Sponsor of Terrorism” (May 20, 2011); U.S. Stupidity and Cowardice in Continuing To Designate Cuba as a “State Sponsor of Terrorism” (May 6, 2014); President Obama Rescinds U.S. Designation of Cuba as a “State Sponsor of Terrorism“ (April 15, 2015).