releases: http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/one-year-later-obama%E2%80%99s-cuba-policy-has-proven-be-sham-and-cubans-are-no-closer-freedom
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| url | title | date | year | month | party | chamber | state | member_name | bioguide_id | domain | scraper | source | date_source | text | has_text | collected_at | updated_at |
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| http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/one-year-later-obama%E2%80%99s-cuba-policy-has-proven-be-sham-and-cubans-are-no-closer-freedom | One Year Later, Obamas Cuba Policy Has Proven To Be A Sham and Cubans Are No Closer To Freedom and Democracy, Says Ros-Lehtinen | 2015-12-16 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | FL | Ileana Ros-Lehtinen | R000435 | ros-lehtinen.house.gov | legacy | One Year Later, Obamas Cuba Policy Has Proven To Be A Sham and Cubans Are No Closer To Freedom and Democracy, Says Ros-Lehtinen Simply put, the Obama administrations Cuba policy has only enriched the Castro regime and its enablers. One year later, we are further away from democracy in Cuba and drifting ever closer to accepting oppressors as legitimate leaders. Miami, Florida Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27), Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, made the following statement on the one year anniversary of President Obamas change to many facets of U.S. policy toward the Castro regime.Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: One year after President Obamas unilateral concessions to communist Cuba, we have seen an increase in detentions on the island and more Cubans are seeking to flee Castros dictatorial rule. So, are the Cuban people any closer to a real democracy? Brave pro-democracy leaders like Las Damas de Blancos Berta Soler, El Sexto, Antonio Rodiles, Jorge Luis Garcia Perez Antunez, and others are still routinely harassed, beaten, and arrested, for denouncing the regimes human rights abuses. The White Houses open hand has been met with a proverbial iron fist. Simply put, the Obama administrations Cuba policy has only enriched the Castro regime and its enablers. Notwithstanding Obamas disastrous Cuba policy, a side deal was agreed to in secret and led President Obama to pardon three convicted Cuban spies who undermined our national security and one whose actions led to the Brothers to the Rescue shootdown, where three American citizens and one U.S. resident were murdered by Castro regime fighter jets. One year after these concessions, the Obama administration only has a few small-ball agreements that don't threaten the dictator's grip on power and won't change the sad status quo on the island. No progress has been made on human rights, confiscated American properties, or the return of U.S. fugitives because the Castro dictatorship will not change and only feels emboldened by Obamas misguided policies. President Obama is attempting to paint progress in Cuba with a broad brush, so much so that seemingly any new round of talks that produce no change on the tyranny's part is hailed as a success. However, the reality is that there is no cause and effect relationship between Obamas Cuba policies and any improvement in the quality of life for the Cuban people. The White Houses policy is one of accommodation to dictators like the Castros and Irans Rouhani and of ignoring pro-democracy leaders who are attempting to promote fundamental American values in their own countries. My colleagues and I will continue to work arduously to ensure that the embargo is maintained and that we shine a light on the dark corners of regime repression. One year later, we are further away from democracy in Cuba and drifting ever closer to accepting oppressors as legitimate leaders. ##### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |