U.S. State Department – dwkcommentaries

U.S. State Department Again Ranks Cuba in Tier 3 (the Lowest Ranking) of the 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report

The U.S. State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Office “leads the Department’s global efforts to combat human trafficking through the prosecution of traffickers, the protection of victims, and the prevention of human trafficking by: objectively analyzing government efforts and identifying global trends, engaging in and supporting strategic bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, targeting foreign assistance to build sustainable capacity of governments and civil society, advancing the coordination of federal anti-trafficking policies across agencies, managing and leveraging operational resources to achieve strategic priorities, and engaging and partnering with civil society, the private sector, and the public to advance the fight against human trafficking.”

On September 29, 2025 , this State Department Office released its 2025 report on Trafficking in Persons.[1] that identified the following:

33 countries in Tier 1 (including the U.S.) “whose governments fully meet the TVPA’s minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking;”
52 countries in Tier 2 which “do not fully meet the TVPA’s minimum standards but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards (with certain exceptions);”
25 countries in Tier 2 Watchlist “whose governments do not fully meet the TVPA’s minimum standards but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards (with certain exceptions . . .), and for which: the estimated number of victims of severe forms of trafficking is very significant or is significantly increasing and the country is not taking proportional concrete actions; or there is a failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons from the previous year, including increased investigations, prosecutions, and convictions of trafficking crimes, increased assistance to victims, and decreasing evidence of complicity in severe forms of trafficking by government officials.”
20 countries in Tier 3 (including Cuba) which “do not fully meet the TVPA’s minimum standards and are not making significant efforts to do so.”

The Report’s Discussion of Cuba[2]

“The government of Cuba does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so. Cuba remained on Tier 3. During the reporting period there was a “government policy or pattern” of forced labor in the government’s labor export program, which included medical missions, from which the regime profited. Despite this the regime took some steps to address trafficking, including prosecuting and convicting more cases of trafficking crimes against children, identifying more victims, and amending the immigration law to improve coordination on victim protection. However, the regime recruited and deployed Cuban workers using deception and threats of retaliation. Cuba included exploitative and coercive elements in contracts and agreements signed with foreign governments for the hiring of Cuban workers, which allowed indirect and unfair payment schemes, wage confiscation, and arbitrary and disproportionate punishments. The regime exerted undue control over Cuban workers working in foreign countries and placed unreasonable restrictions on their movements that did not appear to align with international standards on the health and safety of workers. Regime authorities kept a significant amount of most workers’ wages, confiscated workers’ passports and professional credentials, did not consistently inform participants of the terms of their contracts, and subjected workers to surveillance and strict curfews. The regime did not demonstrate any efforts to change its policies and practices and continued to compel workers into service. The regime did not make efforts to investigate, prosecute, or convict cases of forced labor or sex trafficking involving adults.”

“Prioritized Recommendations for Cuba:

Cease threats and deceptive practices in the recruitment of Cuban workers deployed to foreign countries.
Ensure contracts and agreements signed with foreign governments for Cuban workers provide treatment that aligns with international law and labor standards.
Stop withholding workers’ wages and allow direct payment of wages to workers in line with what other foreign workers receive for similar work.
Eliminate disproportionate punishments outlined in existing disciplinary regulations and laws.
Stop subjecting workers to unreasonable restrictions on movement and association, including surveillance, arbitrary curfews, and limitations of international travel when it does not align with their health and security, and preventing workers from befriending locals.
Allow all civilian workers, including those who are regulated, to obtain and retain tourist passports in addition to official passports and stop confiscating documents needed to exercise freedom of movement.
Vigorously investigate and prosecute sex and labor trafficking crimes to increase convictions and strengthen deterrence of traffickers.
Implement formal policies and procedures to proactively identify trafficking victims, including among vulnerable populations, refer identified victims to appropriate services, and train officials, including first responders, in their use.
Cease recruitment of children for military activities before the mandatory military service age.
Train those enforcing the labor code to screen for trafficking indicators and educate all Cuban workers about trafficking indicators and how to report trafficking-related violations.
Revise Article 363.1 of the penal code to remove the requirement to prove force, fraud, or coercion in child sex trafficking offenses.”

PROSECUTION

“The regime maintained prosecution efforts.”

“The regime criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking through various provisions of its penal code. Article 363.1 of the 2022 penal code criminalized all forms of labor trafficking and some forms of sex trafficking and prescribed penalties ranging from seven to 15 years’ imprisonment for offenses involving an adult victim and 10 years to life in prison for those involving a child victim. These penalties were sufficiently stringent and, with regard to sex trafficking, commensurate with those prescribed for other grave crimes, such as rape. The definition in Article 363.1 established the use of force, fraud, or coercion as an essential element of a trafficking offense, without including an exception for child sex trafficking cases. Thus, Article 363.1 did not criminalize all forms of child sex trafficking. However, Article 402.1 (“corruption of minors”) criminalized the use of a person younger than 18 “in prostitution” and prescribed penalties of seven to 15 years’ imprisonment, which were sufficiently stringent and commensurate with those prescribed for other grave crimes, such as rape. Article 176.1 prescribed penalties ranging from three to eight years’ imprisonment to regime-affiliated workers who did not complete a civilian mission in another country or did not return to Cuba upon completion of the civilian mission – thereby penalizing potential victims of labor trafficking.”

“In October 2024, the regime published its annual trafficking in persons report, which was the primary source of information on the regime’s anti-trafficking efforts and included official data for calendar year 2023 on prosecutions and convictions, the most recent data available. According to the report, the regime investigated 14 domestic trafficking cases, of which 13 were for sex trafficking and one for forced begging. Authorities prosecuted 20 alleged traffickers and convicted 19 traffickers in 2023. This compared with seven transnational trafficking case investigations involving eight Cuban traffickers and five foreign nationals, six prosecutions, and six convictions in 2022. According to regime reporting, sentences ranged from three to 20 years’ imprisonment. Authorities did not report investigating, prosecuting, or convicting any cases involving adult victims of trafficking. Authorities have not prosecuted or convicted any cases of labor trafficking since at least 2022.”

“The regime suppressed independent domestic sources, but some independent sources provided information on trafficking efforts and trends. According to an NGO, the regime banned independent organizations and civil society actors, including human rights activists, and individuals exposing abuses were threatened, persecuted, imprisoned, forced into exile and, in some cases, even killed or disappeared.”

“The regime organized and sponsored training for law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and judges on investigating and prosecuting sex trafficking crimes. Authorities had 27 bilateral cooperation agreements or MOUs that included counter trafficking measures; however, the regime did not report tangible results associated with these agreements.””

Authorities in the Ministry of Justice continued to be complicit in state labor export schemes by prosecuting people who left regime-sponsored labor export programs due to exploitation and forced labor. While exact figures were not available, a 2022 case involving 17 Cuban regime-affiliated medical workers who were captured after attempting to escape a mission in Venezuela were likely prosecuted by regime officials. Anecdotal reports indicate some individuals who did not complete a mission faced imprisonment if they returned to Cuba. Regime officials intimidated and threatened the families of workers who did not complete a mission. Authorities did not report any investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of regime officials complicit in trafficking, despite persistent allegations that officials threatened and coerced participants to remain in the regime-sponsored programs in foreign countries.”

“PROTECTION”

“The regime maintained protection efforts.”

“The 2023 report produced by the regime, reflecting the latest year from which data was available, indicated authorities identified 14 child sex trafficking victims, all of whom were girls. This was compared with six victims in 2022, one woman and five girls. In previous years, the regime reported having procedures to proactively identify and refer sex trafficking victims to care. Authorities reported training law enforcement officials on victim identification; however, implementation of victim identification procedures was not consistent, and the regime relied on victims to self-identify. The regime did not report having procedures to identify forced labor victims. Regime- or communist party-organized and controlled NGOs, such as the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC), the Prevention and Social Assistance Commission, and the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution could identify and refer trafficking victims to state authorities and provide some victim services, including psychological treatment, health care, skills training, and assistance in finding employment. However, these services were often politicized and unavailable to people the regime and/or Communist Party deemed subversive. There were three child and adolescent protection centers where underage trafficking victims could receive non-specialized services. The regime has not reported protecting any identified victims since 2021. Children receiving services in protection centers could use video testimony to facilitate support the prosecution of their traffickers, but officials did not report using these tools. In 2024, Cuba amended its immigration law, expanding protections for trafficking victims, including allowing regime authorities to request assistance from international organizations and NGOs for victim repatriations and preventing foreigners accused of human trafficking crimes from entering Cuba. The regime did not have any mechanisms workers facing exploitation or forced labor conditions could use to seek compensation for through Cuban labor unions or courts.”

“PREVENTION”

“The regime maintained prevention efforts.”

“The Cuban regime did not make sufficient efforts to prevent trafficking, particularly forced labor. In 2024, the regime approved the 2023-2024 NAP, which designated the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) as the central authority responsible for coordination and implementation of anti-trafficking efforts outlined in the plan. The MOJ chaired two national working groups focused on combating trafficking crimes that were expected to convene every three months, according to obligations outlined in the NAP; it was unclear if regime authorities met in 2023. The regime reported using the NAP and published the annual report on anti-trafficking efforts covering 2023. Authorities held awareness sessions for regime employees, students, and tourist industry employees on the prevention and identification of crimes, including trafficking crimes. The regime and the FMC continued to operate a 24-hour hotline for individuals needing legal assistance, including sex trafficking victims; for the fourth year in a row, none of the calls to this hotline resulted in trafficking investigations or victim identification.”

“Regime media continued to produce newspaper articles and television and radio programs, including public service announcements, to raise public awareness about exploitation, including sex trafficking. The FMC raised public awareness through workshops and training with regime officials, social workers, educators, and students, as well as the distribution of materials explaining trafficking and its risks; however, there were no publicly available materials that showed the effectiveness or impact of these programs. The Ministry of Tourism provided training for workers in the tourism sector on the prevention of child commercial sexual exploitation and abuse. Authorities did not make any efforts to reduce the demand for commercial sex acts.”

“The Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MOL) did not make sufficient efforts to address forced labor. In 2023, MOL officials conducted 1,818 labor inspections, issuing more than 10,013 labor violations, but did not identify any cases of forced labor. The regime did not implement policies to prohibit the use of force, fraud, or coercion by foreign labor recruiters and regime-owned or controlled enterprises recruiting and retaining employees using forced labor. Regime law indicated males older than age of 16 must register with the country’s armed forces and prepare for mandatory military conscription starting at the age of 17; however, reports noted the regime’s involvement in the forced recruitment of children to serve in military community brigades. The revised immigration law removed clauses that previously punished Cuban nationals who didn’t return to Cuba within 24 months with loss of property rights; however, the restriction remained in place for regulated civilian workers who did not complete an international mission; preserving an intimidation measure Cuban authorities used to coerce regime-affiliated workers into service.”

“TRAFFICKING PROFILE”

“Trafficking affects all communities. This section summarizes the regime and civil society reporting on the nature and scope of trafficking over the past five years. Human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Cuba, and traffickers exploit victims from Cuba abroad. Sex trafficking, including commercial sexual exploitation and abuse of children by foreign visitors, occurs within Cuba. Traffickers exploit Cuban citizens in sex trafficking and forced labor in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Latin America, and the United States. Traffickers exploit foreign nationals from Africa and Asia in sex trafficking and forced labor in Cuba to pay off travel debts. The regime identified children, young women, elderly, and disabled persons as the most vulnerable to trafficking.”

“Cuban citizens reported being recruited by Russia-affiliated private military companies or by the Russian military with fraudulent employment contracts to be later coerced to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war. For example, two young Cuban men reported being deceptively recruited to work in Russia as construction workers; however, upon arriving in Moscow, they were allegedly coerced into fighting in Ukraine on behalf of Russian military forces. According to contacts, Cuban authorities allegedly expedited the issuance of passports to recruits, who had minimal income and no means to pay for travel independently, and Cuban authorities purposefully declined to place exit stamps in the Cuban potential victims’ passports to claim no knowledge of their travel. Months after the regime allegedly took action against those facilitating trafficking to Ukraine, credible media reports indicated Cubans were still traveling to Russia to fight in Ukraine. Some of these individuals reported Cuban authorities were aware of their recruitment and may have facilitated their travel, and they were received in Moscow by a Cuban military official. Press reports indicated the Cuban regime allegedly received payment for each Cuban citizen recruited to fight in Ukraine on behalf of Russia. According to media reports, between June 2023 and February 2024, more than 1,000 Cubans had traveled to Russia to serve as foreign fighters.”

“International observers and former participants reported regime officials coerce individuals to participate and remain in the Cuban regime’s labor export programs, particularly the medical missions, managed by the Comercializadora de Servicios Medicos Cubanos (CSMC), the Unidad Central de Cooperación Médica (UCSM), the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment. Cuban officials used a combination of inherently coercive laws and regulations to manipulate workers to remain in the program, while grossly profiting from their exploitation and forced labor. The Cuban regime created an inescapable situation for workers who, coerced by the economic circumstances in Cuba and out of fear of retaliation, joined labor export missions. According to the regime, medical professionals comprise 75 percent of its exported workforce. Cuba reported $7 billion in service exports in 2022 (the last year for which data is available), of which $4.9 billion were from the export of medical services.”

“The Ministry of Interior labeled workers who left the program without completing their assignment as “deserters,” thereby banning them from returning to Cuba for eight years. Regulated Cuban nationals who could not return to Cuba were categorized as having “emigrated,” losing citizen protections; rights, including custodial rights over children; and any property left behind; and were not allowed to visit their families remaining in Cuba. An international organization noted concern over Cuba’s policy to prohibit parents who terminated a civilian contract abroad from reuniting with their children. According to an international NGO, by 2021, the Cuban regime had sanctioned 40,000 regime-affiliated workers under these provisions. In 2022, there were approximately 5,000 children forcibly separated from their parents due to the regime’s provisions for the program.”

“There were approximately 26,000 medical workers in more than 55 countries by the beginning of 2025. The Cuban regime confiscates between 75 and 95 percent of the wages the receiving country agrees to pay for each worker. Of the remaining percentage, regime officials pay workers a living stipend, which was usually well below minimum wage and significantly less than what other foreign workers receive for the same or similar work, and allegedly deposit the rest of the funds in Cuban bank account in Cuban pesos rather than the currency the host government uses to pay Cuba for workers’ services. Funds deposited in Cuba were only paid in full to the workers when they successfully completed a mission, or partially, after 11 months of service, and while in Cuba.”

“According to a 2021 report documenting 1,111 testimonies of Cuban workers, 75 percent of participants did not volunteer for the program, 33 percent never saw a contract, 69 percent did not know their final destination, 38 percent had their passport confiscated by Cuban officials once they arrived at their destination, 76 percent had “minders,” 76 percent could not freely associate with locals, 79 percent had restrictions on their movement, 91 percent were told they could not return to Cuba if they defected, 75 percent suffered threats or witnessed coworkers being threatened, and 40 percent were separated from their children as punishment for defecting. Survivors of the labor export program reported regime minders coerced them into criminal activity by making them falsify patient records, manipulate medical files, report procedures that did not take place, and dispose of medications to corroborate fraudulent records and inflated statistics. In 2023, the UN Special Rapporteur (SR) on Contemporary Forms of Slavery sent a letter to Cuban authorities raising concerns over the alleged human rights abuses suffered by regime-affiliated Cuban workers, including medical professionals and other civilian personnel. In the letter, the SR focused on abuses documented in Italy, Qatar, and Spain, including insufficient wages paid to workers, exhaustive work hours without adequate remuneration, the confiscation of passports, precarious work conditions, and the retaliation workers faced if they left the program.”

“Some anecdotal reporting indicates the Cuban regime may be expanding its practices and exploiting citizens in forced labor outside of bilateral agreements and in private hospitals. For example, there were approximately 160 Cuban victims of forced labor working as medical professionals in a private hospital in the Republic of Congo. According to a report, survivors experienced debt bondage, harassment, exhausting work hours, threats, meager wages, sub-standard and crowded living conditions, and passport confiscation. Survivors did not receive a contractual agreement in a language they understood and could not seek legal advice or keep a copy of the contract they signed. Survivors reported unprecedented ease in obtaining a passport to travel abroad, which was highly unusual for regulated civilian workers. According to the survivors, a regulated status flag was added to their file again shortly after leaving Cuba. Cuban diplomats in the Republic of Congo reportedly overlooked concerns of forced labor and passport confiscation and failed to provide consular assistance, raising concerns of official complicity.”

“While the medical missions remain the most profitable for the regime, Cuba had other similarly coercive labor export programs; including, but not limited to, teachers, athletes and coaches, artists, musicians, architects, engineers, forestry technicians, construction workers, and almost 7,000 sea mariners who were vulnerable to exploitation and forced labor. The Cuban regime had approximately 85 state-affiliated entities exporting services to different sectors. While CSMC and UCSM were the primary entities and responsible for 75 percent of Cuba’s labor exports, other regime-controlled corporations were involved in forced labor schemes. A 2024 investigative report into the Cuban regime’s presence in Angola – where more than 2,000 forced labor victims were present in 2023 – confirmed other regime entities followed a similar pattern of exploitation and forced labor. The total number of Cuban regime-affiliated workers in other sectors remains unknown.”

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[1] U.S. State Dep’t, 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report (Sept. 25, 2025).

[2] U.S. State Dep’t, 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report—Cuba (Sept. 25, 2025).

U.S. Sanctions Cuban President and Others for Alleged Participation in Serious Human Rights Violations

On July 11, the U.S. State Department announced sanctions against Cuba/s President (Miguel Diaz-Canel) and members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and Ministry of the Interior (Alvaro Lopez Miera and Lazaro Alberto Alvarez Casas and members of their families) for alleged participation in serious human rights violations associated with the popular demonstrations on July 11 and 12, 2021.[1]

A senior State Department official said, “The United States will never forget the tenacity of the Cuban people four years ago in demanding freedom and a future free from tyranny . The Trump Administration remains steadfast in its commitment to holding the Cuban regime accountable for its repressive actions and rampant acts of corruption.”

The U.S. also updated the list of sanctioned Cuban regime properties with which U.S. citizens and companies are prohibited from doing business, including 11 hotels (the Grand Aston La Habana; the Hotel Sevilla Affiliated by Melia; the Iberostar Selection La Habana; the INNSiDE Habana Catedral; the Varadero Sol Caribe and the Grand Aston Varadero Beach Resort, both in Cuba’s main beach resort; the Ocean Casa del Mar and the Roc Lagunas del Mar, both on Cayo Santa María; the Meliá Trinidad Península, on María Aguilar Beach in Santi Spíritus; and the Meliá Costa Rey, on Cayo Coco).

Secretary of State Marco Rubio marked this development with the following statement:

“Four years ago, thousands of Cubans peacefully took to the streets to demand a future free from tyranny. The Cuban regime responded with violence and repression, unjustly detaining thousands, including over 700 who are still imprisoned and subjected to torture or abuse.”
“Today, the Department of State is taking steps to implement President Trump’s strengthened Cuba policy outlined in National Security Presidential Memorandum
From June 30, 2025. In solidarity with the Cuban people and the island’s political prisoners, the United States is designating key regime leaders under Section 7031(c) for their involvement in gross violations of human rights. We are also taking steps to impose visa restrictions on numerous Cuban judicial and prison officials responsible for, or complicit in, the unjust detention and torture of July 2021 protestors.”
“In addition, the Department is updating the Cuba Restricted List and the Cuba Prohibited Accommodations List to include 11 regime-linked properties, including the new 42-story “Torre K” hotel, to prevent U.S. funds from reaching the island’s corrupt repressors.”
“The U.S. will continue to stand for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the people of Cuba, and make clear no illegitimate, dictatorial regimes are welcome in our hemisphere.”

Also on July 11, 2025, President Diaz-Canel from New York City responded with disdain and irony. “What bothers the US about Cuba is true independence, that transnational corporations don’t govern here, that we have free healthcare and education, that we don’t ask permission to condemn crimes like those committed by Israel and the US against the Palestinians.” His wife, Lis Cuesta, added similar words from Havana. [Lis Cuesta responds with disdain to US sanctions on Diaz-Canel’s “mango”: “They’re late.” Diario de Cuba (July 13, 2025).]

[1] The US sanctions Miguel Diaz-Canel, the ministers of the Armed Forces (FAR) and the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), and their families, Diario de Cuba (July 11, 2025) https://diariodecuba.com/cuba/1752270248_61968.html

Justice for the Cuban People on the Fourth Anniversary of the July 11 Protests, State Department (July 11, 2025) https://www.state.gov/releases/2025/07/justice-for-the-cuban-people-on-the-fourth-anniversary-of-the-july-11-protests/

U.S. Condemns Cuban Harassment of Its Citizens

Starting April 1, Cuban police have been harassing Jose Daniel Ferrer, a prominent opposition leader, at the headquarters of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) along with ordinary Cubans gathered there to obtain free food, which the police seized. Nevertheless, that day the organization fed 1,281 people, more than 40 of whom were victims of arrests and harassment.[1]

On April 2, the U.S. State Department on its social media channels reacted to this situation by saying, “Outraged by the Cuban police’s harassment of citizens receiving food and basic necessities from José Daniel Ferrer. We support José Daniel as he provides vital aid to the people of Santiago de Cuba. The Cuban regime must focus on caring for its people, not repressing them: those responsible will be held accountable.”

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[1] Second day of siege and arrests around the UNPACU headquarters, Diario de Cuba (April 2, 2025).

U.S. Announces that Cuba Is Still a State Sponsor of Terrorism

On December 12, 2024, the U.S. State Department released its 2023 Country Reports on Terrorism.[1] its introduction stated the following:

“The Department of State has issued the 2023 Country Reports on Terrorism (CRT), which provide a detailed look at how the counterterrorism environment and associated threats have evolved over the past year, fulfilling an important Congressional mandate. Each year, the CRT provides insight on important issues in the fight against terrorism and helps the United States make informed decisions about policies, programs, and resource allocations as we seek to build counterterrorism capacity and resilience around the globe.”
“Amid a constantly changing threat landscape, the CRT provides an overview of how we marshal international efforts to counter terrorism. Among the many accomplishments highlighted in the 2023 report are our efforts to refine the focus of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS to address new regions of concern; the continued designation of racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist groups and their leaders; and the repatriation of more than 5,500 foreign terrorist fighters from detention facilities and associated family members from displaced persons camps in northeast Syria.”
“As the United States adapts its counterterrorism approach to keep pace with evolving threats, the CRT continues to serve as a valuable resource in assessing the global terrorism landscape.”

The Report also stated, “To designate a country as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, the Secretary of State must determine that the government of such country has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism. Once a country is designated, it remains a State Sponsor of Terrorism until the designation is rescinded in accordance with statutory criteria requiring the President to certify either a) that a designated country has not provided any support for acts of international terrorism during the previous six months and has provided assurances that it will not support acts of international terrorism in the future or b) that there has been a fundamental change in the leadership and policies of the designated country, that the country is not supporting acts of international terrorism, and that the country has provided assurances that it will not support acts of international terrorism in the future.” (Emphasis added.)

That report stated the following regarding Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism::

“On January 12, 2021, the Department of State designated Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. The Secretary of State determined that the Cuban government repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism in granting safe harbor to terrorists.“
“Cuba was previously designated as a State Sponsor of Terrorism in 1982 because of its long history of providing advice, safe haven, communications, training, and financial support to guerrilla groups and individual terrorists.”
“Cuba’s designation was rescinded in 2015 after a thorough review found the country met the statutory criteria for rescission. In 2021 the Secretary of State determined Cuba had repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism in the six years since its designation had been rescinded. Citing peace negotiation protocols, Cuba refused Colombia’s request to extradite 10 Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN, or the National Liberation Army) leaders living in Havana after that group claimed responsibility for the 2019 bombing of a Bogotá police academy that killed 22 people and injured 87 others.”
“The Cuban government did not formally respond to the extradition requests for ELN leaders Victor Orlando Cubides (aka “Pablo Tejada”) and Ramírez Pineda (aka “Pablo Beltrán”) filed by Colombia.”
“In November 2022, pursuant to an order from Colombian President Petro, the U.S. Attorney General announced that arrest warrants would be suspended against 17 ELN commanders, including those whose extradition Colombia had previously requested. In May 2023 the Colombian government and ELN convened the third round of Colombia-ELN peace talks in Cuba.”
“Cuba continues to harbor several U.S. fugitives from justice wanted on charges related to political violence, many of whom have resided in Cuba for decades.”

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[1] U.S. State Department, On the release of the 2023 Country Reports on Terrorism (Dec. 12, 2024). See also The Cuban regime will remain on the US list of state sponsors of terrorism for another year, Diario de Cuba (Dec. 12, 2024).

U.S. State Department Criticizes Cuban Relations with Russia and China

At a State Department press conference on September 27, 2024, a Cuban journalist asked, “ How do you view Cuba’s approach to China and Russia and its role in the crisis in Venezuela?”

Assistant Secretary of State Brian A. Nichols (Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs and Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs) responded:

“Well, Cuba is not a democratic country, and we would encourage Cuban authorities to think about how they could better respect human rights and the rule of law in their own country and around the world. I think that their engagement on this issue as well as their relations with countries like Russia and China, which are also not democratic, they’re not doing things that would advance democracy in the Western Hemisphere. They’re playing a role of supporting governments around the world that don’t respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of their citizens as enshrined in the UN Charter and many other international documents. And we encourage all of them to adhere to a much greater respect for democracy, human rights, and rule of law.”

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U.S. State Department, UNGA79: U.S. Priorities in the Western Hemisphere (Sept. 27, 2024).

U.S. Accuses Cuba of Attmpting to Interfere in Florida Elections

On July 31, the U.S. State Department released a statement[1] that said the following:

“We have made clear to foreign adversaries that we will not tolerate any efforts to interfere in our elections. The inclusion of Cuba in the Intelligence Community Assessment of Foreign Threats to U.S. Elections is the result of the Cuban government targeting candidates in South Florida who wanted to maintain U.S. sanctions against Cuba.”
“Havana [has] attempted to undermine Florida’s congressional and gubernatorial candidates: It likely wanted to advance its foreign policy goals, including the removal of sanctions, travel restrictions, and the State Sponsor of Terrorism designation.’”
“The report also pointed out that one of the regime’s objectives was to ‘denigrate certain US candidates in Florida’and revealed that part of the strategy deployed in this regard was to ‘forge relationships’ with the media that tend to criticize Washington’s policy toward Cuba. In addition, it referred to the use of social media profiles ‘probably linked’ to Cuba, from which the negative content of US politicians who harshly criticize the Cuban government was amplified.”

The State Department’s comments were precipitated by Cuban foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez’s comment that accusations of Cuba’s influence in U.S. eleactions were ‘unfounded.’

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[1] Bruno Rodriguez accuses the US of interfering in elections around the world and Washington responds, Diario de Cuba (July 31, 2024).

U.S. Commemoration of the July 11, 2021 Protests in Cuba

On July 11, 2024, the U.S. State Department issued the following Press Statement (Commemoration of the July 11, 2021 Protests in Cuba) by Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken.[1]

“Today we reflect upon the courage and resilience of the Cuban people who, on July 11, 2021 and the days that followed, bravely took to the streets to demand respect for their human rights and fundamental freedoms. Tens of thousands of voices rose in unison, echoing a profound call for change, justice, and a government that listens to its citizens.”

“Three long years later, nearly 700 individuals remain unjustly detained in Cuba due to their participation in these historic, overwhelmingly peaceful protests. We reiterate our call for their immediate and unconditional release, as well as for the release of all political prisoners detained in Cuba. The Cuban people will not be silenced, and neither will our commitment to stand by them in their pursuit of a brighter, freer future. Our message to the Cuban government is unequivocal: the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms is non-negotiable.”

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[1] U.S. State Dep’t, Commemoration of the July 11, 2021 Protests In Cuba, (July 11, 2024).

Congressional Hearing on Visits to U.S. Airports by Cuban Officials

On July 9, the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security of the House Committee on Homeland Security held a hearing on visits to the U.S. by Cuban officials to U.S. airports where flights from Cuba are received. This was after a May 20, 2024 (Cuban Independence Day) visit by Cuban officials hosted by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at the Miami International Airport and a meeting at TSA headquarters in the D.C. area without prior notice to congressional leaders. [1]

The main witness was Melanie Harvey, the TSA Executive Assistant Administrator for Security Operations, who said the U.S. needed these visits due to the large number of Cuban citizens who arrive at these airports.

She also said that since the passage of the International Security and Development Cooperation Act in 1985, Congress has given TSA the responsibility of evaluating the effectiveness of security measures at foreign airports that serve as the last point of departure into the United States and that also honor the international standard of sharing information on security, training and quality control programs.” She added that the Cuban government recently had deployed more explosives detection technology at their airports.

The head of this Subcommittee, Representative Carlos A. Gimenez (Rep., FL) and a Cuban-American, disagreed. He said, “The TSA and the State Department do no take seriously the threat posed by Cuban officials on U.S. soil” and “do not believe that (the regime of) Cuba represents any real threat to the [U.S.].” Moreover, “TSA and the State Department failed to notify or coordinate this visit with airport officals and failed to notify Congress of their intent to host (representatives of) a state sponsor of terrorism on U.S. soil. [This demonstrates] “the negligence” of the TSA and calls into question the “capacity of this federal agency to adequately interact with adversarial foreign governments, such as the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Cuba.”

The Ranking Member of this Subcommittee, Shri Thanedar (Dem, Mich), had a different perspective. He said that “over the past year, approximately 2.4 million passengers traveled between Cuba and the United States , providing opportunities for tourism and family connections, which serve as critical lifelines for many people during Cuba’s current economic and humanitarian challenges.” Moreover, “Denying Cuban officials the opportunity to visit U.S. airports would jeopardize the safety of air passengers and ultimately harm the Cuban and American people far more than it would harm the Cuban government.”

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[1] US Transportation Security Administration on Cuban officials’ visits: ’necessary,’ Diario de Cuba (July 10, 2024); Chairman Gimenez Opens Hearing on Unannounced TSA Visit by Cuban Officials: The Biden Administration Cannot “Reward the Cuban Government,” (July 9, 2024); Harvey, “Protecting the Homeland—Examining TSA’s Relationships with U.S. Adversaries” [Opening Statement at House Subcommittee Hearing), (July 9, 2024).

U.S. Again Ranks Cuba in Worst Category for Human Trafficking

On June 24, the U.S. State Department released its 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report on human trafficking, whose “severe forms” are defined in the U.S. Trafficking Victims Proetection Act (TVPA) as: “sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act has not attained 18 years of age” or “the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.”[1]

U.S. Secretary of State’s Comments

U.S. Seretary of State Antony J. Blinken opened the State Department’s session with the following message:

“Human trafficking is a stain on the conscience of our society. It fuels crime, corruption, and violence. It distorts our economies and harms our workers. And it violates the fundamental right of all people to be free.”
“Around the globe, an estimated 27 million people are exploited for labor, services, and commercial sex. Through force, fraud, and coercion, they are made to toil in fields and factories, in restaurants and residences. Traffickers prey on some of the world’s most marginalized and vulnerable individuals – profiting from their plight.”
“The State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report provides the world’s most comprehensive assessment of this abhorrent practice, as well as efforts by governments and stakeholders around the globe to combat it. By measuring progress in 188 countries – including the United States – we are advancing President Biden’s commitment to prevent trafficking, prosecute perpetrators, and protect survivors.”
“Even as this resource covers long-standing forms and methods of trafficking, it also examines the growing role of technology in both facilitating exploitation and countering it.”
“Digital tools have amplified the reach, scale, and speed of trafficking. Perpetrators use dating apps and online ads to recruit victims. They use online platforms to sell illicit sexual content. They leverage encrypted messaging and digital currencies to evade detection.”
“At the same time, technology is also one of our most powerful tools to combat this enduring scourge. Mobile phones, social media platforms, and artificial intelligence make it possible for advocates and law enforcement to raise greater awareness about the rights of workers and migrants, locate victims and perpetrators of online sexual exploitation, and analyze large amounts of data to detect emerging human trafficking trends.”
“As technology makes it easier for traffickers to operate across geographies and jurisdictions, those of us committed to rooting out this horrendous crime – in government, businesses, civil society – can and must work together and coordinate our efforts.”

U.S. Ambassador at Large’s Comments

Cindy Dyer, the U.S. Ambassor at Large, added comments about this report that focused on the importance of partners (survivors, other governments and non-governmental agencies) in combatting this trafficking.

Ranking of Countries

The report ranked all countries of the world into the following tiers:

“Tier 1 Countries whose governments fully meet the TVPA’s minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.” (30 countries, including the U.S.)
“Tier 2 Countries whose governments do not fully meet the TVPA’s minimum standards but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards.” (105 countries)
“Tier 2 Watch List. Countries whose governments do not fully meet the TVPA’s minimum standards but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards, and for which:the estimated number of victims of severe forms of trafficking is very significant or is significantly increasing and the country is not taking proportional concrete actions; or there is a failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons from the previous year, including increased investigations, prosecutions, and convictions of trafficking crimes, increased assistance to victims, and decreasing evidence of complicity in severe forms of trafficking by government officials.” (26 countries)
“Tier 3. Countries whose governments do not fully meet the TVPA’s minimum standards and are not making significant efforts to do so.” In addition, “The TVPA, as amended, lists additional factors to determine whether a country should be on Tier 2 (or Tier 2 Watch List) versus Tier 3: the extent to which the country is a country of origin, transit, or destination for severe forms of trafficking; the extent to which the country’s government does not meet the TVPA’s minimum standards and, in particular, the extent to which officials or government employees have been complicit in severe forms of trafficking; reasonable measures that the government would need to undertake to be in compliance with the minimum standards in light of the government’s resources and capabilities to address and eliminate severe forms of trafficking in persons; the extent to which the government is devoting sufficient budgetary resources to investigate and prosecute human trafficking, convict and sentence traffickers; and obtain restitution for victims of human trafficking; and the extent to which the government is devoting sufficient budgetary resources to protect victims and prevent the crime from occurring.” (24 countries, including Cuba. The other countries so ranked are Afghanistan, Algeria, Belarus, Burma, Cambodia, Chad, China (People’s Republic of), Curacao, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Guinea-Bissau, Iran, Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of ), Macau, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Russia, Sint Maarten, South Sudan, Syria, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.)

Report’s Comments on Cuba

In the section entitled “Topics of Special Interest” the report discussed “Human Trafficking in Cuba’s Labor Export Program.” Here is what it said:

“Each year, the Cuban government sends tens of thousands of workers around the globe under multi-year cooperation agreements negotiated with receiving countries. While medical missions remain the most prevalent, the Cuban government also profited from other similarly coercive labor export programs, including those involving teachers, artists, athletes and coaches, engineers, forestry technicians, and nearly 7,000 merchant mariners worldwide. According to a report published by the Cuban government, by the end of 2023, there were more than 22,000 government-affiliated Cuban workers in over 53 countries, and medical professionals composed 75 percent of its exported workforce. The COVID-19 pandemic increased the need for medical workers in many places around the world, and the Cuban government used the opportunity to expand its reach by increasing the number of its medical personnel abroad through the Henry Reeve Brigades, which Cuba first initiated in 2005 to respond to natural disasters and epidemics. Experts estimate the Cuban government collects $6 billion to $8 billion annually from its export of services, which includes the medical missions. The labor export program remains the largest foreign revenue source for the Cuban government.”

“There are serious concerns with Cuba’s recruitment and retention practices surrounding the labor export program. While the conditions of each international labor mission vary from country to country, the Cuban government subjects all government-affiliated workers to the same coercive laws. Cuba has a government policy or pattern to profit from forced labor in the labor export program, which includes foreign medical missions. The Cuban government labels workers who leave the program without completing it as “deserters,” a category that under Cuban immigration law deems them as “undesirable.” The government bans workers labeled as “deserters” and “undesirables” from returning to Cuba for eight years, preventing them from visiting their families in Cuba. It categorizes Cuban nationals who do not return to the country within 24 months as having “emigrated.” Individuals who emigrate lose all their citizen protections, rights under Cuban law, and any property they left behind. These government policies and legal provisions, taken together, coerce workers and punish those seeking to exercise freedom of movement. According to credible sources, by 2021, the Cuban government had sanctioned 40,000 professionals under these provisions, and by 2022, there were approximately 5,000 children forcibly separated from their parents due to the government’s policies surrounding the program.”

“Complaints filed with the International Criminal Court and the UN indicate most workers did not volunteer for the program, some never saw a contract or knew their destination, many had their passports confiscated by Cuban officials once they arrived at their destination, and almost all had “minders” or overseers. According to the complaints and survivors, Cuban heads of mission in the country subjected workers to surveillance, prevented them from freely associating with locals, and imposed a strict curfew. Cuba also confiscated between 75 and 90 percent of each worker’s salary. As a result of the well-founded complaints and information about the exploitative nature of Cuba’s labor export program, at the end of 2023, the UN Special Rapporteur for Contemporary Forms of Slavery filed a new communication outlining the persistent concerns with the program, particularly for Cuban workers in Italy, Qatar, and Spain.”

“While exploitation, including forced labor, of workers remains the primary concern with the program, Cuba’s practices can also negatively impact a host country’s healthcare system. Survivors of the program have reported being forced by the Cuban in-country mission director to falsify medical records and misrepresent critical information to justify their presence and need to local authorities. Some individuals reported discarding medications, fabricating names, and documenting medical procedures that never occurred. When medical workers refused to comply with the demands of the Cuban in-country mission director, they faced punishment and retaliation. While the Cuban government promotes workers as highly skilled medical professionals and specialists, these workers often lack adequate medical training to treat complex conditions. These practices are unethical, negligent, exploitative, and risk the lives of those they serve.”

“Governments should make efforts to combat human trafficking, and this includes not purchasing goods or services made or provided with forced labor. Governments that utilize Cuba’s labor export programs despite the serious concerns with the program should at a minimum conduct frequent and unannounced labor inspections to screen these workers for trafficking indicators and employ victim-centered interviewing techniques. These host governments should ensure all Cuban workers are subject to the same laws, regulations, and protections as for other migrant workers and that they are not brought via a negotiated agreement with the Government of Cuba that limits these protections or exempts Cuban workers from Wage Protections Systems or other tools designed to strengthen transparency. Officials should ensure workers maintain complete control of their passports and medical certifications and can provide proof of full salary payment to bank accounts under the workers’ control. They should scrutinize medical reports produced by these workers, offer protection for those who face retaliation and punishment for terminating their employment, and raise awareness of trafficking risks for all foreign workers, including government-affiliated Cuban workers.”

Cuba’s Comments on This Report[2]

On June 24, Granma (the official voice of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba) said, “[A lier is] the neighboring government, that one to the north of the archipelago, which, like the naked king in a children’s story, displays its falsehoods about Cuba, without realizing that its shame is in the air; so arrogant is its arrogance.The current U.S. administration arbitrarily insists on keeping Cuba in the worst category (level 3) in its recently published annual State Department report on human trafficking. The actions of the Washington authorities, marked by political motivations, deserved the response, from . . . the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez [who said]:

“The empire has once again listed Cuba in its manipulative report on human trafficking, an outrageous maneuver in the open war against Cuban medical collaboration. Enough cynicism, Secretary Blinken. You are well aware of our zero-tolerance policy for this criminal practice. To justify the action, the report referred to the year 2023 uses contradictory arguments, based on the defamation of the work of Cuban medical collaboration in more than a hundred countries. Cuba’s cooperation with other peoples in the field of health is so humane that they have to attack it. It bothers them that, in the midst of the lordship of perversity and dishonor with which they pretend to dominate the world, the unsubmissive island brings light to the darkness and health to those who suffer.”

“But it is not fortuitous to include Cuba in spurious lists, to consider the island in the worst category in its report on human trafficking allows the White House to justify the blockade and the endless saga of coercive measures aimed at starving its people.”

“It would seem that the world is upside down: those who promote human trafficking, encouraging illegal departures, those who hinder the normal migratory flow between the two nations, are the ones who judge and punish.”

“Those who do not allow – to cite just one example – our baseball players to benefit from an agreement that prevents them from falling into the arms of human traffickers to reach the MLB, are the same ones who seek to condemn those who maintain a zero tolerance policy against human trafficking.”

Conclusion

This is a very complicated report, and the State Department website says, “This posted version is not fully accessible, meaning it may be inaccessible or incompatible with assistive technology. An accessible version will be posted as soon as the ongoing updates are concluded.” (Thus, there may be errors in this post and readers are invited to note any such corrections.)

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[1]U.S. State Dep’t, 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report (June 2024); The US considers that the regime ‘is not making significant efforts’ to combat human trafficking, Diario de Cuba (June 24, 2024).

[2] Capote, Accusing Cuba of human trafficking, another ruse to justify economic warfare, Granma (June 26, 2024).

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).