Staff Reports
The Biden era was a time of diplomacy with dictators, giving Cuba, a perennial thorn in the side of democracy, room to maneuver. Thankfully, the Trump administration is charting a different course, and Marco Rubio is playing a key role in this reset. The Secretary of State recently announced a robust set of visa restrictions targeting individuals on the Cuban government payroll who exploit forced labor, proving that the U.S. is back in business—at least in holding Biden’s favorite villain accountable.
Upon reintroducing Cuba to the list of state sponsors of terror, Rubio made it clear that there’s no room for compassion when it comes to a regime that profits from the suffering of its people. The new visa restrictions will apply to Cuban officials and their international accomplices involved in the insidious labor export programs. This includes many of the doctors Cuba sends abroad under the guise of humanitarian aid. Ironically, these missions are marketed as altruistic, but they translate to revenue for a regime that has no qualms about denying basic healthcare to its own citizens.
Rubio Gets Tough on Cuba's Forced Labor Programs – PJ Media https://t.co/9CNCMNCrkz
— Deenie (@deenie7940) February 26, 2025
Cuba’s Foreign Minister had the audacity to complain about these measures, dismissing them as part of Rubio’s “personal agenda.” This isn’t about personal agendas; it’s about accountability in a parallel universe where Marxism meets malpractice, leaving ordinary Cubans stuck in a system that treats them as nothing more than commodities. Promoting healthcare whilst stealing from the hands of citizens isn’t humanitarian; it’s hypocrisy wrapped in a stethoscope.
Cuba’s glorious medical export business, touted by the regime as an ‘army of white coats,’ is mostly a revenue-generating scheme for Castro’s heirs. While they send doctors to the world to deal with pandemics, they simultaneously deprive their homeland of essential medical services. Rubio’s concerns ring true: having an abundance of doctors in foreign nations does not translate to adequate healthcare for Cubans, which is the ultimate irony. Doctors on these missions are essentially slaves to the system, and any deviation from the strict regulations can lead to career-ending penalties or worse.
The glittering facade of Cuba’s humanitarian efforts crumbles under scrutiny. Many doctors feel coerced into participating, facing threats and severe penalties should they dare to step out of line. Thanks to these revamped visa restrictions, we may just see some consequences for the enablers of this modern-day slavery. With Rubio’s reinstatement of the Cuba Restricted List, the trail of dirty cash flowing to the Cuban military is about to get tighter. For those who seek to exploit the Cuban people, the party is over.
