Cruz: Lifting Cuba terror sponsor designation 'unacceptable'

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Tuesday heavily criticized President Biden’s decision to remove Cuba from the State Sponsor of Terrorism list.

"Today’s decision is unacceptable on its merits," Cruz said in a statement.

"The terrorism advanced by the Cuban regime has not ceased. I will work with President Trump and my colleagues to immediately reverse and limit the damage from the decision.”

Cuba was first added to the terroris list 1982 but removed by President Obama in 2015, signaling a more open relationship with the nation.

The Trump administration placed Cuba back on the list for harboring foreign and national fugitives in 2020 before he exited the White House. The island has since been lobbying for a second removal with help from Mexico and Colombia’s leaders.

Biden is granting their request in his final week of the presidency.

“Obama-Biden officials are continuing their legacy of closing out administrations with rank appeasement of the Cuban regime. They push these policies both because they believe in them and to undermine the incoming Trump administration and Republican Congress,” Cruz said in a Tuesday statement.

“These moves do incredible damage to American national security and send a message to our adversaries that they can rely on outgoing Democrat administrations – and wait out pressure from Republican administrations – to continue engaging in terrorism and other aggression against Americans.”

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