With Trump back in the White House and Marco Rubio leading the charge as Secretary of State, the U.S. has doubled down on its decades-long blockade of Cuba. Trade and travel restrictions are tightening. Families are separated. Basic necessities, like food, medicine, and fuel, are increasingly out of reach for millions of Cubans.
We are seeing the worst economic conditions on the island since the 1990s. Power outages are daily. Gas lines stretch for blocks. Shelves are empty. The Cuban people are being suffocated by U.S. policy.
This is not just about policy—it’s about people, and we must act.
That’s why we’re relaunching the Monthly Cuba News Roundup, your go-to source for updates and critical news. Every month, we’ll bring you curated stories and resources to help keep Cuba in the public eye and fuel grassroots solidarity.
Join Our September Delegation: Stand With Cuba in Person
From September 13–22, 2025 we’re leading a Solidarity Delegation to Cuba. This is your chance to to learn firsthand from Cubans about the ongoing blockade and its impacts.
- Visit grassroots projects, co-ops, and small businesses
- Meet everyday Cubans navigating daily scarcity and struggle
- Learn Cuba’s history of resistance—and what’s at stake now
- Engage in real people-to-people solidarity
We don’t just observe. We show up. All participants are encouraged to bring humanitarian supplies to support communities in need. More details here. For details or to reserve your spot, contact Drea at drea@globalexchange.org or call (415) 575-5527.
Cuba In The News
Belly of the Beast: Supreme Court Sides with Trump on Deportation of 500,000+ Immigrants – Including Cubans – 5/30/25
The Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration can revoke the legal status of immigrants who came to the U.S. through Biden’s “humanitarian parole” program. The decision grants the federal government the power to deport citizens from four countries: Venezuela, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Cuba. More than 110,000 Cubans entered the U.S. under this program and are now at risk of deportation if their legal status has not yet been adjusted.
Belly of the Beast: Chinese Spy Bases – The Latest Chapter in U.S. “Fake News” About Cuba – 5/30/25
In 2023, the Wall Street Journal published a front-page article claiming that China was planning and building spy bases in Cuba. The only sources were anonymous U.S. officials who provided no material evidence to support their claims. In 2024, a D.C.-based think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), similarly asserted that China was operating four intelligence bases near Havana in exchange for billions of dollars. Once again, these reports were largely disproven, but they highlight the lengths to which some U.S. entities will go to push anti-Cuban and anti-Chinese rhetoric.
The Revelator: Collateral Damage – The Environmental Cost of Cuba’s Terrorism Designation – 5/19/25 – By Vinicius Pereira
After the Trump administration placed Cuba back on the “State Sponsors of Terrorism” (SSOT) list, the country became subject to even harsher sanctions. These restrictions further limit trade, access to international markets, and exports. The economic deterioration resulting from both the blockade and the SSOT listing has severely undermined Cuba’s ability to protect its environment. Budget cuts have led to a rise in illegal fishing, deforestation, poaching, forest fires, increased animal endangerment, and inadequate waste management over the past five years.
Reuters: Cuba Issues Verbal Warning to Top U.S. Diplomat in Havana for “Disrespectful Conduct” – 5/30/25 – By Dave Sherwood
Cuba’s Foreign Ministry announced it had issued a verbal warning to Mike Hammer, the U.S. Chief of Mission in Havana. Cuban authorities claim that Hammer has committed serious infractions by inciting unrest through meetings with political dissidents. The U.S. State Department, however, defended the diplomat, stating that Hammer is working to seek accountability from the Cuban government.
People’s Dispatch: Destroying Cuba’s International Medical Missions – Marco Rubio’s New Goal – 2/27/25
In February, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly urged other nations to stop hiring Cuban doctors. He claimed the doctors were “exploited labor” and warned that countries continuing to host Cuban medical personnel could face sanctions, including visa restrictions. Such restrictions would be economically devastating for Cuba, which receives payments from host countries for these services. Between 2011 and 2025 alone, Cuba earned an estimated $11 billion in revenue from its international medical missions.
American Immigration Council: Analysis of Trump’s New Travel Ban – 6/6/25
On June 4, President Trump issued a new travel ban, either fully or partially limiting the entry of nationals from nineteen countries. Cuba is among the seven countries subject to partial restrictions. These include a ban on immigrant visa issuance and a partial suspension of certain non-immigrant visas—specifically B-1 (business), B-2 (tourist), F and M (student), and J (exchange visitor) visas.
https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/analysis-trump-travel-ban
Advocacy: Campaign to Send Pacemakers to Cuba, Remove Cuba from the SSOT List, and Defend Cuba’s Medical Brigades
The Saving Lives Pacemakers Campaign is working to raise at least $150,000 to send 150 pacemakers to Cuba.
🔗 Click here to learn more and donate