Republican Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis from New York, whose mother hails from Cuba, recently addressed the United States Trade Representative's Office. She urged that the 2026 review of the USMCA be used as leverage to compel Mexico to terminate the Cuban medical missions, which she condemned as forced labor and human trafficking orchestrated by Havana's communist regime.
Malliotakis didn't mince words: "Mexico is engaged in what amounts to forced labor, human trafficking, essentially a forced-labor scheme run by the Cuban communist regime."
The congresswoman explained that while Mexico pays the Cuban government billions for hiring doctors and healthcare workers, the regime withholds these funds from the workers themselves: "The communist regime pockets that money. It hardly reaches the workers."
She highlighted the coercive practices documented by the State Department and human rights organizations, which include passport confiscation, wage withholding, surveillance, restrictions on movement, and limitations on family contact.
According to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Mexico disburses $3,750 monthly per Cuban doctor, yet the professionals receive a mere $200 each month.
Pressing for Policy Changes
Malliotakis pointed out a loophole in Article 23.6 of the USMCA, which doesn't specifically address exported labor services, only goods made with forced labor. She called for this gap to be closed: "It's shocking that human trafficking through governmental medical missions or service-related trade links isn't addressed with equal urgency."
In February 2026, Malliotakis, alongside several colleagues, had already penned a letter to the USTR warning about this issue. Earlier in January, she had demanded that Secretary of State Marco Rubio impose Global Magnitsky Act sanctions on Cuban officials involved in these missions.
She emphasized the political opportunity at hand: "With President Trump and the Secretary of State putting pressure on Cuba, now is the time to fix this oversight in the agreement," cautioning that the scheme "funnels billions into the pockets of the Cuban communist regime when our president and our secretary of state are trying to economically strangle them."
Gaining Traction on an International Stage
The USTR representative responded positively, confirming the administration's focus on forced labor: "The United States chairs the G20 this year, and forced labor is one of the issues we are addressing. We are conducting a Section 301 investigation on forced labor, including in relation to Mexico."
This intervention comes amid growing scrutiny of Cuban medical missions. On April 8, the IACHR released a 199-page report — drawing from testimonies of 71 Cuban professionals across 109 countries — urging American nations to exit the program due to strong indicators of forced labor and modern slavery.
In March, Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart directly accused President Claudia Sheinbaum of complicity in human trafficking for maintaining the contract with Cuban doctors, an accusation the Mexican embassy in the U.S. denied, defending the hiring.
Cuban medical missions generated $4.882 billion in 2022 according to official Cuban data, surpassing tourism as the regime's primary income source, making the USMCA pressure a pivotal component in economically suffocating Havana's government.
The mandatory review of the trade agreement is due by July 1, 2026, providing a limited window for Washington to apply pressure on Mexico in this matter.
Understanding the Implications of Cuban Medical Missions
What are the Cuban medical missions?
Cuban medical missions involve sending healthcare professionals overseas, often under terms that are criticized as exploitative and akin to forced labor.
Why is the USMCA review important in this context?
The USMCA review in 2026 presents a chance for the U.S. to exert pressure on Mexico to cease its involvement in Cuban medical missions, which are viewed as human trafficking by critics.
How do these missions benefit the Cuban government financially?
Cuban medical missions are the regime's primary source of income, generating billions annually, surpassing even tourism revenue for Cuba.
What actions has Congresswoman Malliotakis taken regarding this issue?
She has addressed the USTR, signed a letter with colleagues, and called for sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act against Cuban officials involved in the missions.