Representatives Jayapal and Omar recently visited Cuba and pushed for easing US restrictions on relations with the communist-ruled island.
Their trip drew criticism from Republican lawmakers who accused them of sympathizing with Cuba’s government.
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis said, “Say it out loud: The Congressional Communist Sympathizing Caucus.”
Ilhan Omar, Pramila Jayapal torched over secret trip to Cuba: 'They are communist sympathizers'https://t.co/2560qePbqP
— Fox & Friends First (@FoxFriendsFirst) March 1, 2024
Reps. Jayapal and Omar dismissed such claims, noting agriculture officials from both parties had also visited Cuba.
They argued engaging with Cuba benefits the US and supports Cuban reforms.
Rep. Jayapal said, “The reality is a lot of people in the United States want to engage with Cuba. And we should figure out a way to do that and we should support the reforms that the Cuban government is working to implement.”
As the top progressives in Congress, Jayapal and Omar carry influence as Biden weighs policies on issues like Cuba that divide Democrats.
Cuba-US ties remain controversial for Republicans in swing-state Florida with many Cuban-American voters backing sanctions.
While Biden pledged 2020 policy shifts, he has not significantly changed the restrictive approach set by Trump that reversed Obama’s opening.
Supporters of engagement argue the decades-old embargo has failed to impact Cuba’s government while harming ordinary Cubans amid the island’s worst economic crisis in decades.
Rep. Omar said, “For us to continue to have, and implement, policies from 60 years ago is not helpful for our country’s national interests and it’s certainly not helpful to the people of the Cuban island.”
