Becerra in 1997 refused to call for free elections in Cuba

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra as a congressman in 1997 refused to call for free elections following a assembly with Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, and he voted ten years later to finish a commerce embargo with the communist dictatorship.

Becerra, President Biden’s selection to head the Health and Human Services Department, clashed with Cuban-Americans in the House Hispanic caucus after, as chairman of the group, he traveled to the island to meet with Castro. 

Moderates in Congress like Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., and Mitt Romney, R-Utah, haven’t but determined how they’ll vote in Becerra’s affirmation. Becerra confronted questions from conservatives who voiced considerations that he was too liberal or inexperienced as a healthcare chief. 

Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Republicans from South Florida, mentioned in 1997 that they had been  “personally insulted” by the then-congressman’s four-day journey to the island nation. They resigned from the caucus, which then had no Republican members left. 

Diaz-Balart mentioned that he wouldn’t contribute membership dues to the caucus till Becerra “demonstrates minimal respect for the rights of Cubans to be free and calls for free elections for that oppressed island,” in accordance to the Los Angeles Times.

Becerra later mentioned he couldn’t concern a call for free and honest elections.

“This is an issue that the caucus doesn’t take positions on,” he mentioned, so he couldn’t make an announcement, in accordance to The Hill.

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Aides to Becerra dismissed criticisms on the time, saying he had tried to hear from all sides and had spoken to each Cuban dissidents and Castro himself. 

Becerra later defended the journey, telling NPR: “As an American citizen who has had the privilege now of being elected to Congress … I should be as educated as I can be on a number of issues.

“I’m very disenchanted that the 2 members determined to take this motion. I think about them buddies,” he said. “And I do know that they’re very passionate concerning the concern. Certainly, it — the entire concern of Cuba is one which the caucus, as a result of there has not been a robust consensus, has determined not to tackle. I — as the brand new chair of the caucus, it was not my intention to change that coverage both. They selected, nonetheless, to make it a difficulty,” he said. 

Becerra has repeatedly voted for softening the trade embargo with Cuba. In 2007, he backed an amendment by Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., to make it easier to ship farm goods to Cuba and another amendment from Rangel that prohibited funding to implement the trade embargo with Cuba.

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As well being and human providers secretary, Becerra wouldn’t have a lot a say in U.S. Cuba coverage. But the communist-run island nonetheless probably was relieved when the Biden administration took the reins. With the Obama administration got here an historic warming of U.S.-Cuba relations and a flood of American guests to the nation. But the Trump administration had reversed the Obama detente, squeezing Cuba with sanctions and isolation.

Neither the White House nor Becerra’s workplace responded to a request for remark.