Congressional Black Caucus Urges Trump Administration to End the Oil Blockade on Cuba
Washington, May 23, 2026
On Friday, May 22, 2026, Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) issued a letter demanding that President Trump and Secretary Rubio end the oil blockades imposed on Cuba in light of the accelerating humanitarian crisis on the island.
In the letter, the Congressional Black Caucus urges the Trump Administration to relieve the economic pressure on the island, which has led to an increase in infant mortality rates, the threat of starvation, and a declining standard of living for innocent Cuban civilians.
“Under the administration’s oil blockade and tightening of sanctions, Cubans are dying,” the Chairwoman writes. “The New York Times has reported that, as a result of the sanctions, the infant mortality rate in Cuba has more than doubled since 2018. With food shortages leading to more underweight pregnant mothers and their newborns, too many Cuban children are unable to make it out of the hospital and home to their families.”
The Congressional Black Caucus, which has long encouraged the United States to be a leader on the global stage in supporting peace and justice, admonished the administration for its harsh policies that have led to the dire situation facing the Cuban people.
Read the full letter here.
https://cbc.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3186