Cuba has reportedly released all of the 53 prisoners it had pledged to set free as part of the recently announced moves to normalize relations between the communist island country and the United States.
U.S. officials told Reuters that the White House will provide the names of all 53 to Congress and expects lawmakers to make them public, and that the United States would pressure Cuba to release more prisoners.
The move comes ahead of talks next week in Havana aimed at furthering the normalization of relations between the two countries.
Many Republicans have criticized President Obama’s announcement last month that the U.S. would ease business and travel restrictions to the country as part of an effort to normalize relations, as well as a deal that saw American Alan Gross, who had been jailed in Cuba, released in exchange for three Cuban spies.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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