Cuba releasing 2,010 prisoners as the US pressures the island’s government

AP News ^ | April 2, 2026 | Andrea Rodriguez

[Twotone]

HAVANA (AP) — The Cuban government said Thursday it would release 2,010 prisoners in a move that comes while the Trump administration puts extreme pressure on the island’s government with a suffocating oil blockade.

The announcement said the pardons were a “humanitarian gesture” in connection with Holy Week and didn’t mention mounting pressures with the U.S.

The government said the prisoners affected are foreigners and Cubans, including women, the elderly and young people. It didn’t say when they were being released or under what conditions, nor did it mention the crimes they were accused of committing.

Authorities also provided no details on whether any of those pardoned were protesters convicted and sentenced for terrorism, contempt or public disorder.

Cuba’s government denies holding political prisoners, but the activist group Prisoners Defended registered 1,214 people imprisoned for political reasons in Cuba as of February.

Cuban authorities said the decision “was based on a careful analysis of the characteristics of the crimes committed by those sanctioned, their good behavior in prison, having served a significant portion of their sentence, and their health status,” according to a statement published in state media.

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TOPICS: Cuba; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cuba; prisonerrelease

[Responsibility2nd]

Just DON’T release them to the US.

We DON’T need another Mariel Boat Lift.

[Libloather]

Announce which boats they’ll be on so they don’t get blowed up.

[fidelis]

The announcement said the pardons were a “humanitarian gesture” in connection with Holy Week and didn’t mention mounting pressures with the U.S.

So in the past have they released thousands of prisoners during Holy Week? Should be easy enough for the press to verify.

[Lizavetta]

Are these real criminals or simply normal people who fought against the Castros?

[If You Want It Fixed - Fix It]

......aaaand THAT’S why Trump let the Russian oil tanker through.

Good Job Mr. T.

[rollo tomasi]

A good use of tax dollars would be to divide them evenly and send the prisoners directly to 10 Downing Street, London, SW1A 2AA, UK as well as 55 rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré, 75008 Paris, France.

[VanShuyten]

“ We DON’T need another Mariel Boat Lift.”

Really. Are the Cubans trying to make us believe these are political prisoners, or is this another attempt to dump their criminals on us?

[zeestephen]

Will all 2,000 get sanctuary and welfare in the USA?

I think we tried that before, in the 1980 Mariel Boat Lift.

They sent us a couple thousand criminals.