Cuba is facing one of the worst economic crises in its history. The Cuban people are facing shortages of clean water, medicine, and medical equipment, and the price of food has skyrocketed. At the same time, it is nearly impossible for U.S. humanitarian and faith organizations to provide humanitarian aid to the Cuban people. The main obstacle is the fact that Cuba is on the State Department’s “State Sponsors of Terrorism List.” Because banks fear running afoul of U.S. anti-terrorism laws and regulations, it can take years for groups to get much-needed aid and finances into the country.
Read a letter from 20 faith groups in support of taking Cuba off the State Sponsors of Terrorism List
President Obama removed Cuba from the list in 2015 as the initial step to opening up diplomatic relations. But in January of 2021, weeks before the Trump administration left office, Secretary Pompeo placed Cuba back on the list with devastating effects for the Cuban people. Private businesses and entrepreneurs who were thriving under the opening of restrictions were decimated, and the effects were compounded by the US economic embargo. Almost immediately, our partners faced shortages of critical items such as food, medicine, and other lifesaving essentials. For many Cubans, the situation has now become so unbearable they are selling all they own and risking their lives to migrate to the US. Almost 300,000 Cubans have migrated – our policy is one of the root causes of that migration.
Cuba continues to make international commitments to combat terrorism, has ratified numerous international counterterrorism conventions, and has signed a bilateral agreement with the United States on counterterrorism. Cuba has worked with the U.S. on other efforts as well and provided access to Cuban air space so the US could deliver aid to the Haitian people. Cuba has been lauded by the Colombian government for its help with their peace negotiations. Cuba should not be on the State Sponsors of Terrorism list.
Please take action for the Cuban people! Contact the administration and congress today and urge them to take Cuba off the State Sponsors of Terrorism list.
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