What's With The Squad's Secretive Trip To Communist Cuba: Human Rights Mission Or Political Sympathy?

The purpose of the visit was to engage in discussions on human rights issues. The trip was not reported by state media and only came to light when it was covered by the press on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for the Congressional Progressive Caucus confirmed the visit following the media report, indicating that there was no initial intention to publicly disclose the trip. The spokesperson stated, “Representatives Jayapal and Omar traveled to Cuba last week, where they met with people from across Cuban civil society and government officials to discuss human rights and the U.S.-Cuba bilateral relationship.”

Both Jayapal and Omar are known for their sympathies towards the Cuban regime and have been vocal in their support for ending the long-standing economic embargo imposed by Washington. In January, Jayapal urged President Joe Biden to lift the embargo, arguing that it had wreaked havoc on the local economy.

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Jayapal also called for Biden to remove Cuba from the U.S. list of countries that sponsor terrorism, despite no evidence to suggest that they have ceased such activities. She argued that the country's inclusion on the list has severely hampered its ability to conduct international business, leading to an economic downturn and prompting residents to flee the country.

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However, Cuba's dismal human rights record is undeniable. The left-leaning NGO Human Rights Watch acknowledged this in its 2023 report on the communist island, stating that "the government continues to repress and punish virtually all forms of dissent and public criticism, as Cubans endure a dire economic crisis affecting their rights."

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The secret visit drew widespread condemnation from lawmakers and commentators on social media. Among those criticizing the trip were Cuban-American Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL), and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY). They expressed their outrage at the visit, with one referring to the Progressive Caucus as the "Congressional Communist Sympathizing Caucus."

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The reasons behind Omar and Jayapal's decision to keep the visit under wraps remain unclear. As noted by the press, Cuban state media typically highlights visits by American lawmakers to the island, often framing their visit as a gesture of 'solidarity' with the Cuban people or support for ending the U.S. embargo.