The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) reported on the death of Joanne Deborah Byron (Joanne Chesimard) -also known as "Assata Shakur"- an American fugitive whose extradition has been demanded for decades by the regime for the murder of a police officer in the U.S. in 1973.
The brief note from MINREX stated that Joanne Deborah Byron passed away on September 25 in Havana “due to health issues and her advanced age.”
In 2013, Assata Shakur -former Black Panther- became the first woman to be named on the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) list of most wanted terrorists, and the reward for her capture was increased to two million dollars.
The crime that made her the most wanted woman
Born in 1947, Chesimard became one of the leaders of the Black Panther Party, a political-military organization founded in 1966 and dissolved in 1982, during the presidency of Ronald Reagan (1981-1989).
In 1967, she married Louis Chesimard, but after her divorce in 1970, she changed her name to Assata Shakur and joined the aforementioned organization.
On May 2, 1973, Chesimard and two accomplices killed New Jersey state trooper Werner Foerster during a routine traffic stop for driving a car with a broken tail light.
Chesimard opened fire on officers James Harper and Werner Foerster, resulting in the deaths of Zayd Shakur (who was with Chesimard) and Agent Foerster.
Foerster's killer was arrested, tried, and sentenced to life in prison for the crime.
In March 1977, she was found guilty of eight charges and transferred to prison.
However, in November 1979, he escaped from the maximum-security prison in Hunterdon County, New Jersey.
She then lived as a fugitive in the United States for several years. In 1984, she managed to return to Cuba, where she was granted political asylum.
In 1998, the United States Congress unanimously demanded Cuba extradite the woman, but without any success.
In 2005, his name was added to the FBI's Terrorist List, with a reward of one million dollars.
A few years later, in 2013, Chesimard would become the first woman named on the FBI's most wanted terrorists list, and the reward for her capture was increased.
In 2015, the then Democratic Senator from New Jersey, Bob Menendez, wrote to the then Secretary of State, John Kerry, demanding the extradition of Chesimard.
For many years, politicians from various parties and civil organizations requested that Cuban authorities hand over Chesimard, but the island has always refused to return the fugitive.
Even in 2017, during the second round of Cuba-U.S. talks regarding counterterrorism, numerous news agencies echoed the possibility of a potential exchange of spies and fugitives.
It was reported that the U.S. would hand over Ana Belén Montes to Cuba, and that the island would extradite Joanne Chesimard in return. However, that did not happen.
In June 2017 -during his first term- President Donald Trump demanded that Cuba "return the fugitives from American justice, including the return of the police killer Joanne Chesimard."
In 2018, then-Republican Senator Marco Rubio and Democrat Bob Menéndez signed a resolution demanding "immediate extradition" of fugitives from the U.S. in Cuba, including Joanne Chesimard.
In May 2025, the United States government renewed its call for the extradition of Joanne Chesimard.
The case has been a point of friction in diplomatic relations between Washington and Havana for decades. While the U.S. government insisted on his extradition, Cuban authorities argued that he was a political fugitive.
The figure of Shakur has been the subject of controversy. While the FBI viewed her as a dangerous criminal, some organizations like Black Lives Matter consider her a symbol of black resistance in the U.S.
Finally, the Cuban government has gotten its way by preventing the extradition of the fugitive.
It is estimated that more than 70 fugitive American citizens reside in Cuba, including individuals identified as criminals and terrorists. The case of William "Guillermo" Morales is another example, accused of the attack on Fraunces Tavern in 1975.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Death of Assata Shakur and Its Impact on Cuba-U.S. Relations.
Who was Assata Shakur and why was she wanted by the FBI?
Assata Shakur, born as Joanne Deborah Byron, was a former member of the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army. In 1973, she was convicted of the murder of New Jersey state trooper Werner Foerster during a traffic stop. She escaped from prison in 1979 and sought refuge in Cuba, where she was granted political asylum. In 2013, she became the first woman to be included on the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists list.
Why was the United States unable to extradite Assata Shakur from Cuba?
Despite repeated attempts to extradite her, the Cuban government has always refused to hand over Assata Shakur, arguing that she is a political persecuted figure. This case became a constant point of friction in diplomatic relations between Washington and Havana, with no agreement reached for her extradition.
What was the impact of Assata Shakur's death on Cuba-U.S. relations?
The death of Assata Shakur closes a tense chapter in the relations between Cuba and the United States, marked by decades of failed extradition requests. Her figure was central in the debate over the protection of fugitives by the Cuban regime, and her passing could alter the diplomatic dynamics surrounding other similar cases.
How many fugitive American citizens currently reside in Cuba?
It is estimated that more than 70 American citizens wanted by the law reside in Cuba. These include individuals accused of various crimes, and their presence remains a sensitive issue in the diplomatic relations between the two countries.
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