Dems want Biden to ease sanctions on Cuba and Venezuela to address border crisis.
House Democrats Urge Biden to Reverse Trump-Era Sanctions on Cuba and Venezuela
A group of Democrats in Congress, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Raul Grijalva, have written a letter to President Joe Biden, urging him to lift the sanctions imposed on Cuba and Venezuela by the Trump administration. The letter argues that these sanctions are contributing to the current increase in migration and causing significant logistical challenges for federal, state, and local authorities.
The Impact of Sanctions
The Trump administration issued sanctions against Venezuela to punish the “illegitimate” regime led by President Nicolás Maduro, citing an “abuse” of natural resources, and against Cuba to reverse what former President Donald Trump called “the Obama-Biden sellout to the Castro regime.” The House Democrats argue that these sanctions have blasted the economies of Cuba and Venezuela, making food and medicine scarcer.
Call to Action
The letter recognizes that Biden has already lifted some penalties on both countries, but urges him to act swiftly to lift the remaining sanctions. The Democrats argue that the sanctions are having a grave humanitarian toll on the peoples of those countries and exacerbating the challenges at the border.
Clash with Senate Foreign Affairs Chairman
The House Democrats’ push to further ease up sanctions against Venezuela and Cuba sets up a clash with Senate Foreign Affairs Chairman Robert Melendez, a major critic of both governments leading both countries. Melendez released a joint statement with other Senate Democrats on Thursday that made no mention of Cuba or Venezuela, instead making other suggestions such as expanding legal pathways for migrants from Central America and helping local economies thrive.
Conclusion
The House Democrats’ letter highlights the impact of sanctions on the economies of Cuba and Venezuela and the challenges they pose to federal, state, and local authorities. It remains to be seen how the Biden administration will respond to this call to action.
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