Top US diplomat in Havana promises more sanctions on Cuba, World News
HAVANA — The US has more sanctions in store for Cuba, the US top diplomat in Havana said on Friday (May 23), just days after the US punished several Cuban judicial officials for their roles in jailing political dissidents on the island nation.
Three Cuban judges and a prosecutor were forbidden from entering the United States on Wednesday, the latest sanctions from the Trump administration, which earlier declared a tough new policy on Cuba.
"The sanctions announced this Wednesday were just the beginning," US embassy chief of mission Mike Hammer told reporters at a press conference in Miami. "This administration is determined to sanction repressors. There will be consequences for their actions."
President Donald Trump has already doubled down on sanctions since taking office in January, returning longtime foe Cuba to a US list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, tightening rules on remittances, and shutting off Biden-era migration programs.
The 61-year-old Hammer, a career US diplomat who arrived in Cuba just six months ago, has kept a busy schedule, wandering the country widely as he talks with dissidents, small-business owners and Cubans of all walks of life.
In videos produced by the US embassy and shared on social media, Hammer, who is fluent in Spanish, plays dominoes with a group of children in Camaguey, visits the tomb of Cuban hero Jose Marti in Santiago and speaks with family members of jailed dissidents in homes throughout Cuba.
His travels come as Cubans confront the worst economic downturn in decades, a growing crisis the Cuban government blames on the Cold War-era US embargo, a web of restrictions that impede financial transactions, trade and tourism.
Hammer told reporters on Friday that those Cubans he had spoken with in his travels disagreed that the US was to blame.
"The people recognise that those responsible are the Cuban regime, it has nothing to do with any policy of the United States."
Those assertions have infuriated the Cuban government, which accuses Hammer of seeking to stir up resentment in a bid to overthrow the island's communist leadership.
"Hammer's comments were not part of a neutral press conference, but rather a carefully orchestrated political operation... designed to position the Trump administration and (Secretary of State) Marco Rubio as though they were 'allies of the Cuban people'," said Cuban diplomat Johana Tablada, who deals in US-Cuba relations.
Even so, Cuba has not moved to block Hammer's travels, although it issued a recent warning in state-run media that its "patience has limits."
Hammer told reporters he would continue his work on the island.
"What are they scared of? I'm just a simple chief of mission talking with the people," he said.
[[nid:718267]]
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Five nations and EU urge Trump not to impose new airplane tariffs
President Donald Trump has already imposed tariffs of 10 per cent on nearly all airplane and parts imports. PHOTO: REUTERS Five nations and EU urge Trump not to impose new airplane tariffs WASHINGTON - Five nations and the European Union, as well as airlines and aerospace firms worldwide, urged the Trump administration not to impose new national security tariffs on imported commercial planes and parts, documents released on June 10 showed. Airlines and planemakers have been lobbying President Donald Trump to restore the tariff-free regime under the 1979 Civil Aircraft Agreement that has yielded an annual trade surplus of US$75 billion (S$96.5 billion) for the US industry. The documents made public by the US Commerce Department bared concerns over the fallout of possible new tariffs expressed by companies as well as nations such as Canada, China, Japan, Mexico and Switzerland, besides the European Union. 'As reliable trading partners, the European Union and United States should strengthen their trade regarding aircraft and aircraft parts, rather than hinder it by imposing trade restrictions,' the EU wrote. It would consider its options 'to ensure a level playing field', it added. Mr Trump has already imposed tariffs of 10 per cent on nearly all airplane and parts imports. 'No country or region should attempt to support the development of its domestic aircraft manufacturing industry by suppressing foreign competitors,' the Chinese government wrote. Separately, US planemaker Boeing cited a recent trade deal unveiled in May with Britain that ensures tariff-free treatment for airplanes and parts. 'The United States should ensure duty-free treatment for commercial aircraft and their parts in any negotiated trade agreement, similar to its efforts with the United Kingdom,' Boeing told the Commerce Department in a filing. Mexico said in 2024 it exported US$1.45 billion in aircraft parts, just a tenth of the total, to the United States. The EU said it took US exports of aircraft worth roughly US$12 billion, while exporting about US$8 billion of aircraft to the US. In early May, the Commerce Department launched a 'Section 232' national security investigation into imports of commercial aircraft, jet engines and parts that could form the basis for even higher tariffs on such imports. Last week, Delta Air Lines and major trade groups warned of tariffs' impact on ticket prices, aviation safety and supply chains. 'Current US tariffs on aviation are putting domestic production of commercial aircraft at risk,' Airbus Americas CEO Robin Hayes said in a filing. 'It is not realistic or sensible today to create a 100 per cent domestic supply chain in any country.' Boeing said it had been increasing US content in its airplanes over the last decade and its newest airplanes, the 737 MAX 10 and 777X, would have 'more than 88 per cent domestically-sourced content'. The United Auto Workers union, which represents 10,000 aerospace workers, said it supports tariffs and domestic production quotas, adding that US aerospace employment has fallen to 510,000 in 2024 from 850,000 in 1990. 'To safeguard the entire aerospace supply chain across the commercial and defense sectors, comprehensive tariffs and production quotas on several products are needed,' it said. JetBlue Airways opposed new tariffs, however, saying, 'Trade policy should reinforce, not destabilise, the proven systems that keep our aircraft flying safely and affordably.' REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Hundreds protest outside ICE headquarters in New York City
NYPD Strategic Response Group units arrest protesters as they block an entrance to the Federal building on Broadway in New York. PHOTO: VICTOR J. BLUE/NYTIMES Protesters block an entrance to the Federal building on Broadway after a rally against ICE arrests at Foley Square in New York on June 10. PHOTO: VICTOR J. BLUE/NYTIMES NEW YORK – Hundreds of protesters demonstrated in lower Manhattan on the evening of June 10 against President Donald Trump's escalating immigration crackdown, continuing several days of protests that began more than 3,850km away in Los Angeles. The demonstrators rallied at Foley Square, near a large government building that houses federal immigration offices and the city's main immigration court, which has become a flash point as the Trump administration ramps up the arrest of migrants in courthouses. Shortly after 6pm, hundreds moved into streets that snake through the lower Manhattan neighborhood that is home to federal buildings, marching about 1.5km north toward another immigration court on Varick Street. They raised bright yellow signs that said 'ICE out of NYC' in Spanish and English. A separate group stayed behind and spread out around the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office near Foley Square. The crowd there grew increasingly agitated as night fell, with some chanting 'Nazi scum' and taunting police officers. Dozens of officers in riot gear flanked the protesters in an apparent effort to facilitate traffic, leading to the arrest of a number of demonstrators who were escorted away with their hands bound in zip ties throughout the evening. After 10pm, a dwindling crowd of about 100 protesters clashed with police officers near Foley Square, with some briefly marching downtown toward the entrance of the Brooklyn Bridge. Officers sought to keep people on sidewalks, pushing some demonstrators to the ground as they arrested them and using pepper spray during some of the arrests. Some people shouted and shoved the officers as they were led away in handcuffs. As Mr Trump deployed National Guard troops and Marines to California, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat who has largely aligned himself with Mr Trump's immigration agenda, said on June 10 that he did not foresee Mr Trump sending the military to the city. 'If there's ever a need to go beyond the manpower that we have, there's other ways you do it before you have to come with the look of a military operation,' Mr Adams said, citing the size and experience of New York City's police force. The rally on June 10 appeared to be larger than protests in New York during the past few days. Those earlier demonstrations were tense, resulting in arrests and small confrontations with law enforcement, but they did not devolve into the visceral scenes of chaos that appeared episodically in Los Angeles. While the protests in Los Angeles were largely peaceful, protesters and federal officers have engaged in violent clashes, with officers shooting flash-bang grenades and rubber bullets at protesters, who have thrown rocks, glass bottles and fireworks at the officers and have burned vehicles. NYPD Strategic Response Group units arrest protesters as they block an entrance to the Federal building in New York on June 10, 2025. PHOTO: VICTOR J. BLUE/NYTIMES In New York, demonstrators coalesced near 26 Federal Plaza, a 41-storey federal building just a few blocks from City Hall with one of the city's three immigration courts. Dozens of migrants showing up for hearings have been detained by federal agents at the courthouse in June, sparking pushback from Democrats and drawing activists to the building. The imposing skyscraper also houses the ICE field office in New York. On June 10, Ms Andrea Montiel, 31, whose parents are Mexican immigrants, said she showed up at the rally on behalf of family and friends who she said were too worried about their immigration status to demonstrate publicly. 'I think we're really here just because we hope we can make a difference and show ICE is not welcome,' she said, adding that New York and Los Angeles were connected by their large Hispanic populations. 'We are one community despite the distance.' After speeches at the rally, which was organised by a coalition of unions and immigration groups, the crowd grew more disorganized as protesters, many of them masked, broke off to march on city streets, chanting 'Abolish ICE' and waving Mexican and Palestinian flags. Ms Eva Stokes, 21, said she marched in support of her father, who is an immigrant from Mexico. 'My father could get deported at any time,' Ms Stokes said with tears filling her eyes. 'He already has been summoned, and, you know, it's a scary process. I don't want to feel like I'm going to lose my dad.' As nightfall approached, one group of about 50 protesters reached Washington Square Park, dancing and clapping by the park's fountain. People protest against recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests in the Columbia Heights neighborhood in Washington on June 10. PHOTO: ERIC LEE/NYTIMES The first day of demonstrations in New York was June 7 , when more than 100 protesters gathered outside 26 Federal Plaza, where they clashed with police officers after the protesters tried to block ICE vehicles carrying detained migrants. Police said 22 people were taken into custody as officers dispersed the crowd. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, quickly praised the Police Department's response. 'Thankfully, unlike in Los Angeles, the local police department quickly responded to the riots,' DHS said in a statement. On June 9, after Mr Trump ordered 2,000 National Guard members to Los Angeles, demonstrators took over the lobby of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in New York, demanding the release of immigrants sent to a notorious maximum-security prison in El Salvador. The Police Department arrested at least 24 protesters during that demonstration. Later in the day, as concerns mounted that the protests in New York could spiral out of control, Mr Adams issued brief remarks alongside police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. The mayor said that he respected the right of New Yorkers to protest peacefully but vowed that 'we will not allow violence and lawlessness'. 'The escalation of protests in Los Angeles over the last couple of days is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our city,' Mr Adams said. Ms Tisch said that any attack against police officers would 'be met by a swift and decisive response by the NYPD.' The city leaders gave the remarks just as a disjointed group of 200 protesters gathered near 26 Federal Plaza for a 'ICE out of NYC' demonstration on the evening of June 9, leading to seven arrests. NYTIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
AsiaOne
2 hours ago
- AsiaOne
US Marines arrive in LA; California governor warns 'democracy under assault', World News
LOS ANGELES — Hundreds of US Marines arrived in the Los Angeles area on Tuesday (June 10) under orders from President Donald Trump, ratcheting up tensions in America's second largest city, as California's governor warned "democracy is under assault." Trump's extraordinary measures of sending National Guard and Marines to quell protests, which broke out in response to his immigration raids, fuelled demonstrations for a fifth day in Los Angeles, and sparked protests in several other cities. As Trump and Newsom traded fulminations, the city's mayor said the protests were limited to about five downtown streets, but declared a curfew for parts of the downtown area due to violence and looting. Police arrested another 197 people on Tuesday — more than double the total number of arrests to date. Democratic leaders have raised concerns over a national crisis in what has become the most intense flashpoint yet in the Trump administration's efforts to deport migrants living in the country illegally, and then crack down on opponents who take to the streets in protest. "This brazen abuse of power by a sitting president inflamed a combustible situation, putting our people, our officers and even our National Guard at risk. That's when the downward spiral began," Newsom said in a video address. "He again chose escalation. He chose more force. He chose theatrics over public safety. ... Democracy is under assault." Newsom, widely seen as preparing for a presidential run in 2028, has called the deployments an illegal waste of resources. He and the state sued Trump and the Defence Department on Monday, seeking to block the deployment of federal troops. Trump in turn has suggested Newsom should be arrested. Trump, voted back into office last year largely for his promise to deport undocumented immigrants, used a speech honouring soldiers on Tuesday to defend his decision. He told troops at the Army base in Fort Bragg, North Carolina: "Generations of Army heroes did not shed their blood on distant shores only to watch our country be destroyed by invasion and third-world lawlessness." "What you're witnessing in California is a full-blown assault on peace, on public order and on national sovereignty, carried out by rioters bearing foreign flags," Trump said, adding his administration would "liberate Los Angeles." Demonstrators have waved the flags of Mexico and other countries in solidarity for the migrants rounded in a series of intensifying raids. Homeland Security said Monday its Immigration and Customs Enforcement division had arrested 2,000 immigration offenders per day recently, far above the 311 daily average in fiscal year 2024 under former President Joe Biden. Unrest in the street Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Tuesday announced a curfew for one square mile (2.5 sq km) of downtown Los Angeles that will run from 8pm to 6am locally for several days. With five minutes until the curfew took effect, hundreds of protesters faced police with their hands raised, chanting ""peaceful protest." Even so, state and local officials have called Trump's response an extreme overreaction to mostly peaceful demonstrations. Bass emphasised at a press conference the distinction between the majority of demonstrators protesting peacefully and a smaller number of agitators she blamed for violence and looting. A curfew had been considered for several days but Bass said she decided to impose one after 23 business were looted on Monday night. "When these peaceful rallies end, and the protesters head home, another element moves in: opportunists, who come in under the cover of a peaceful protest to ravage and destroy," Council member Ysabel Jurado, who represents the area, told reporters. As the mayor and the council member spoke, police and protesters were engaged in skirmishes outside. In what has become a daily ritual, police forced demonstrators away from the streets outside the Metropolitan Detention Centre, where many detained migrants are held. Multiple groups of protesters snaked through downtown Los Angeles, monitored or followed by police armed with less lethal munitions. Protests also took place in other cities including New York, Atlanta and Chicago, where demonstrators shouted at and scuffled with officers. Some protesters climbed onto the Picasso sculpture in Daley Plaza, while others chanted that ICE should be abolished. Christina Berger, 39, said it was heartbreaking to hear about children who are afraid of being separated from their families due to immigration raids, adding, "I just want to give some hope to my friends and neighbours." Marines at the ready About 700 Marines were in a staging area in the Seal Beach area about 30 miles (50km) south of Los Angeles, awaiting deployment to specific locations, a US official said. A US official said there were 2,100 National Guard troops in the Los Angeles area on Tuesday, more than half the 4,000 to be activated. The Marines and National Guard troops lack the authority to makes arrests and will be charged only with protecting federal property and personnel. Even so, California Attorney General Rob Bonta told Reuters the state was concerned about allowing federal troops to protect personnel, saying there was a risk that could violate an 1878 law that generally forbids the US military, including the National Guard, from taking part in civilian law enforcement. "Protecting personnel likely means accompanying ICE agents into communities and neighborhoods, and protecting functions could mean protecting the ICE function of enforcing the immigration law," Bonta said. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Tuesday posted photos on X of National Guard troops accompanying ICE officers on an immigration raid. Trump administration officials have vowed to redouble the immigration raids in response to the street protests. [[nid:718960]]
