{"id":266452,"date":"2023-03-12T09:40:20","date_gmt":"2023-03-12T13:40:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/?p=266452"},"modified":"2023-03-12T09:40:20","modified_gmt":"2023-03-12T13:40:20","slug":"biden-administration-opens-door-to-cuban-opponents-imprisoned-on-the-island","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba-usa\/biden-administration-opens-door-to-cuban-opponents-imprisoned-on-the-island\/","title":{"rendered":"Biden administration opens door to Cuban opponents imprisoned on the island"},"content":{"rendered":"

The <\/span>Biden administration<\/b><\/a> opened the door to the possibility of receiving in its territory Cuban <\/span>opponents<\/b><\/a>\u00a0who are currently imprisoned on the island.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhile we strongly oppose forced exile, the United States will not turn its back on political prisoners, and if they want to come to America, we will explore available avenues under U.S. law to welcome them,\u201d Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs <\/span>Brian A. Nichols<\/b><\/a> said this week.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In <\/span>a speech<\/b><\/a> at Florida International University (FIU), Nichols stated that \u201cpublicly \u2013 and privately in discussions with Cuban officials \u2013 the U.S. government continues to call for the release of political prisoners.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

However, he did not specify if both executives are currently negotiating the possible release of imprisoned opponents, whom Havana does not consider political prisoners, and for whose release international organizations and institutions such as the Catholic Church and <\/span>the European Union<\/b><\/a> have advocated.<\/span><\/p>\n

Instead, he confirmed that the Washington Embassy in Havana \u201chas constant communication with the dissident community on the island, including the families of political prisoners,\u201d whom he described as \u201can incredibly brave group of people, facing extremely difficult conditions.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The official cited NGOs, which, he said, estimate that more than 700 protesters from the <\/span>July 2021 anti-government protests in Cuba<\/b><\/a> \u201care among the more than 1,000 political prisoners currently behind bars.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

These protesters have been tried and sentenced on the island \u2014 in many cases to long prison terms \u2014 for crimes such as sedition, assault, contempt, public disorder and incitement to commit a crime, after their participation in the protests.<\/span><\/p>\n

The remarks by the Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs take place after last year Washington and Havana had some official contacts after the setback in bilateral relations imposed by the Trump administration.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition, it comes a month after the Nicaraguan government <\/span>released and deported<\/b><\/a> more than 200 opponents to the United States, a move that the State Department described as \u201cpositive and welcome.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In his presentation at FIU, Nichols also elaborated on the Biden administration\u2019s current policy toward Cuba.<\/span><\/p>\n

In that sense, he first mentioned human rights, as well as the establishment of \u201cmeaningful ways to support the Cuban people while limiting benefits\u201d for the Cuban government, which he called a \u201cregime.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

On one of the topics of the hour, immigration policy, he pointed out that his government has been working \u201cto expand safe and legal migration options.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur Embassy in Havana is now fully open for immigrant visa processing and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has resumed processing under the Cuban Family Reunification Program,\u201d he confirmed.<\/span><\/p>\n

The rebirth of the Parque de los Suspiros<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n