washington - The Biden administration announced on Tuesday that it would remove Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism and ease economic restrictions as part of a deal to release political prisoners.

A senior administration official said the Catholic Church brokered the deal that would allow for the humanitarian release of dozens of political prisoners before President Joe Biden leaves office at noon on Jan. 20. The prisoners were arrested after the government cracked down on protests sparked by the 2021 economic crisis. Nearly 1 million Cubans left the country amid unrest, most coming to the United States

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement: "Since the Biden-Harris administration took office, U.S. policy toward Cuba has focused on empowering the Cuban people to freely determine their own future and promoting respect for human rights. respect.” statement.

The incoming Trump administration may reverse this decision. senator. Marco RubioPresident-elect Donald Trump's pick for secretary of state supports tough sanctions against the communist regime in Havana, and his family fled Cuba in the 1950s.

Republican lawmakers were also quick to express anger at the move. Texas Senator Ted Cruz said in a statement that removing the designation was "unacceptable" and would harm U.S. national security.

Senior Biden administration officials say there is no evidence to support continued designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism based on recent administration assessments, and they stressed that if the Trump administration decides to redesignate Cuba as a terrorism sponsor, they will do so under the same information for research. . Officials said the Biden team has been in contact with their counterparts on the Trump team on the issue.

President Barack Obama similarly removed Cuba from the terrorism list. Trump reinstated the appointment shortly before leaving office in 2021.

Michael Bustamante, a professor at the University of Miami, said the terrorism sponsor designation "makes it very difficult to do business in Cuba."

"In a sense, the demolition represents a lifeline for Cuba's tourism industry," Bustamante said. "That is, if this removal continues."

Bustamante said the Biden administration's last-minute decisions could have unintended consequences when the Trump administration takes office in less than a week.

"Even if you think it's the right move, there's a real question now of whether this creates a bigger target for Cuba because the incoming Trump administration might try to re-establish it," Bustamante said. impose tougher sanctions on Cuba.”