Two leading progressive Democrats, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Pramila Jayapal of Washington, ignited controversy and a wave of backlash with their undisclosed trip to Cuba last week, purportedly to discuss “human rights.”
The delegation, including a staffer from Rep. Barbara Lee’s office, engaged in discussions with Cuban civil society and government officials, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), Fox News reports.
The trip, shrouded in secrecy and unnoticed by Cuban state media, raised serious eyebrows, especially given the ongoing U.S. embargo against the communist regime.
Both Omar and Jayapal have been vocal critics of the embargo, advocating for normalized relations between the two nations and voting against a 2021 resolution supporting protests in Cuba and urging the release of detained citizens.
However, their outreach to the authoritarian communist government drew sharp rebuke amidst America’s own domestic challenges, particularly the surging influx of illegal immigrants at the southern border and rising crime rates plaguing communities nationwide.
In light of recent tragedies like the murder of a 22-year-old college student in Georgia by an illegal immigrant, the priorities of lawmakers have come under intense scrutiny. Representative Mike Waltz of Florida criticized the trip, suggesting that Omar and Jayapal sought a “refresher course on communism” to bring back to Washington.
Others, like Representative Nicole Malliotakis of New York, went further, condemning the Progressive Caucus as the “Congressional Communist Sympathizing Caucus” and questioning the appropriateness of engaging with a regime known for its human rights abuses.
The juxtaposition of Democratic leaders engaging with Cuba while America grapples with its own crises has sparked outrage among conservatives and drawn attention to what some perceive as misplaced priorities.
Representative Malliotakis argued that lawmakers should be focusing on understanding the plight of Cubans fleeing communism rather than cozying up to the regime.
