Over 30 Democratic members of Congress have sent a letter to the Trump administration, urging it to dismiss any military intervention plans against Cuba and to refrain from using the Guantánamo naval base to detain Cuban migrants, as reported by EFE news agency.
The letter, spearheaded by Illinois Representative Delia Ramírez, was addressed to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin.
The lawmakers described any potential intervention as "illegal, profoundly destabilizing, and catastrophic for the Cuban population, while also escalating displacement, worsening mass suffering, and harming U.S. interests in the region." They stressed that such actions "must be unequivocally rejected."
This correspondence comes amid a sustained escalation in Trump's rhetoric toward Cuba. On May 2, the president declared at a rally that he would seize control of the island "almost immediately" after the war with Iran concludes.
Political Tensions and Military Threats
A day prior to the letter, Secretary Hegseth stated that Cuba poses "a national security threat" to the United States, a claim that Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez countered by warning that any "military aggression" would result in a "humanitarian catastrophe" and a "bloodbath" for both nations.
Regarding the use of Guantánamo for Cuban migrants, Democrats were firm: "Detaining them at Guantánamo is not a solution to migration but an attempt to contain the consequences of the very policies causing it."
Democratic Initiative and Senate Responses
The plans emerged during a March Congressional hearing when a high-ranking Southern Command official suggested sending Cuban migrants to Guantánamo in the event of increased migration flows from the island.
This Democratic House initiative follows the Senate's blocking of a war powers resolution two weeks ago, introduced by Senators Tim Kaine, Ruben Gallego, and Adam Schiff, designed to prevent military action against Cuba without Congressional approval. The vote was 51 to 47 against the resolution.
On Wednesday, Trump posted on Truth Social that "no Republican has ever spoken to him about Cuba," disregarding public warnings from six Republican senators opposed to military operations, including John Thune, James Lankford, Susan Collins, Shelley Moore Capito, and Rand Paul.
Republican Senators Voice Concerns
The Republican senators made their stance clear: Lankford highlighted that "there's a lot of economic pressure that can be applied to Cuba, which alone makes a huge difference," while Capito remarked that military action on the island "is far down the list, if at all."
Meanwhile, the Pentagon has updated contingency plans for a potential intervention, although Department of Defense sources emphasize that no action is imminent.
Since January 2026, the Trump administration has imposed over 240 sanctions on Cuba, including new measures against the military conglomerate GAESA announced on May 7, as part of a maximum pressure strategy aimed at accelerating the regime's downfall.
Key Questions About U.S.-Cuba Relations and Military Actions
What are the potential consequences of a U.S. military intervention in Cuba?
A military intervention could be illegal, destabilizing, and catastrophic for the Cuban people. It would likely lead to increased displacement, worsen humanitarian suffering, and damage U.S. interests in the region.
Why are Democratic lawmakers opposing the use of Guantánamo for Cuban migrants?
Democrats argue that using Guantánamo to detain Cuban migrants does not address migration issues but rather attempts to contain the fallout from policies that cause migration.
How have Republican lawmakers responded to the idea of military action in Cuba?
Several Republican senators have voiced opposition to military action, suggesting economic pressure as a more effective means to influence Cuba.