Cuban-American voices in the U.S. Congress expressed their approval on Friday of the sanctions imposed by the State Department on Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel, his family, and top military officials. They described the move as a long-overdue act of justice, coinciding with the fourth anniversary of the historic July 11 protests. "At last, the pathetic puppet dictator is being penalized for his abuses against the Cuban people," stated Representative Carlos Giménez on X. Meanwhile, his colleague María Elvira Salazar commented that "it was about time we had zero-tolerance leadership towards tyrants."
Announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the sanctions bar Díaz-Canel, Defense Minister Álvaro López Miera, Interior Minister Lázaro Álvarez Casas, and their immediate families from entering the U.S. Restrictions were also placed on judicial and prison officials accused of repressing and torturing July 11 protestors, though their names remain undisclosed.
Additionally, Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart directly thanked former President Donald Trump and Rubio for "utilizing the necessary legal tools" to punish those who "continue to brutally terrorize those who simply demand freedom." Díaz-Balart criticized the previous administration for allegedly prioritizing appeasement of the regime over national security.
Senator Rick Scott warned that "violence against peaceful demonstrators will have consequences" and expressed support for students who recently protested at the University of Havana, citing a Wall Street Journal article.
Questions Raised by Cubans
From Havana, Díaz-Canel dismissed the sanction as an attack on Cuba's "true independence" and claimed that what bothers the U.S. is "our free healthcare and education." However, on social media, many Cubans pointed out the irony of a regime that has always demonized the U.S. but is upset when its leaders are barred entry.
Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez mentioned a "ruthless economic war," and Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío described it as a "supposed sanction" they accept "with pride."
The sanctions echo the events of July 11, 2021, when thousands of Cubans took to the streets demanding freedom and were met with violent repression. Over a hundred individuals remain imprisoned for their participation in those protests. Although these measures come four years later, they signal to many in exile and on the island that repression will not go unpunished. "The U.S. will never forget the resilience of the Cuban people," a senior official told the Miami Herald.
The message is clear: there will be repercussions for those who oppress their own citizens.
Understanding U.S. Sanctions on Cuban Leadership
What prompted the U.S. sanctions on Miguel Díaz-Canel?
The U.S. imposed sanctions on Díaz-Canel and other Cuban officials due to their involvement in human rights abuses, particularly following the violent repression of the July 11, 2021 protests.
Who else is affected by these sanctions?
Besides Díaz-Canel, the sanctions target Defense Minister Álvaro López Miera, Interior Minister Lázaro Álvarez Casas, and their families. Judicial and prison officials involved in repressing protestors are also subject to restrictions.
How did Cuban officials react to the sanctions?
Cuban officials, including Díaz-Canel, dismissed the sanctions as an attack on their independence, while accusing the U.S. of waging an economic war against Cuba.