Jayapal Urges US-Cuba Reset Following Fact-Finding Mission
India-West News Desk
WASHINGTON, DC — Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson said they were “shocked” by the humanitarian conditions they witnessed during a five-day visit to Cuba in April, arguing in a New York Times opinion essay that escalating U.S. sanctions and fuel restrictions have deepened suffering across the island nation.
The Democratic lawmakers, both members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, described visiting Havana’s Eusebio Hernández Pérez maternity hospital, where they said medical staff struggled with repeated blackouts, broken equipment, and fuel shortages.
According to the lawmakers, nationwide power outages have damaged critical medical equipment, while restrictions linked to U.S. sanctions have made replacement parts difficult to obtain. They said doctors at times have been forced to manually operate ventilators during blackouts to keep newborns alive.
Jayapal and Jackson criticized recent sanctions announced by President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, describing current U.S. policy toward Cuba as outdated and rooted in Cold War era strategies.
The lawmakers concluded by urging direct negotiations between the United States and Cuba based on “mutual respect,” saying improved relations could offer hope for future generations of Cubans.
Jayapal and Jackson argued that tightened sanctions imposed in recent years have worsened Cuba’s economic and humanitarian crisis. They wrote that fuel deliveries to Cuba have been largely blocked for months because foreign shipping companies fear U.S. enforcement actions against oil tankers.
The lawmakers said the shortages have affected nearly every aspect of daily life, including transportation, health care, agriculture, and access to running water.
In the essay, Jayapal emphasized that many Cubans they met, including dissidents, religious leaders, entrepreneurs, and families of political prisoners, expressed opposition both to the U.S. blockade and to any potential military intervention in Cuba.
The lawmakers also called for a broader reassessment of U.S.-Cuba relations, arguing that normalized ties could create economic opportunities for both countries. Jayapal and Jackson pointed to agriculture, tourism, and medical research as areas where cooperation could benefit Americans and Cubans alike.
At the same time, the lawmakers acknowledged concerns about political freedoms in Cuba. They said they raised issues including arbitrary detention and treatment of political prisoners during a meeting with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel. The essay noted recent moves by the Cuban government, including the announced release of more than 2,000 prisoners and cooperation with an FBI investigation into a maritime shooting involving Cuban Americans.
