U.S. to Remove Cuba from Terror List in Vatican-Brokered Deal to Free 553 Prisoners

Jan 14, 2025, 11:10 PM

In a last-minute decision, the Biden administration announced plans to remove Cuba from the U.S. state sponsors of terrorism list in exchange for the release of 553 prisoners, including political detainees. The move, facilitated by the Vatican, follows discussions between President Miguel Díaz-Canel and Pope Francis. Biden will also rescind Trump-era restrictions and eliminate the restricted list targeting Cuban entities subject to prohibited transactions. The president has notified Congress of his plans, which come just days before he leaves office. Republicans have expressed outrage over the move, vowing to reverse it when President-elect Donald Trump, who had originally added Cuba to the list in 2021, takes office on January 20.