Cuban opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer lashed out at two Democratic congressmen from the United States, whom he accused of acting as "accomplices" of the regime following their recent visit to Cuba, where they met with government officials.
His statements come following the trip to Havana by representatives Pramila Jayapal and Jonathan Jackson, who held meetings with Miguel Díaz-Canel and advocated for a change in Washington's policy towards the island.
In a video posted on his X profile, Ferrer described the visit as an act of “immorality” and denounced that both legislators “are going to Cuba to shake hands with the tyrant, to applaud the tyranny, and to become complicit in oppression, misery, and repression.”
The opposition figure, exiled in the United States after years of prison on the island, stated that the Cuban regime maintains a system of persecution against activists and citizens, including minors, and accused Havana of using prisons as a mechanism of social control.
Ferrer also criticized a letter signed by dozens of Democratic congress members, which blames U.S. policy for the worsening crisis in Cuba, stating that the situation is a direct consequence of the model imposed by the regime.
In his message, he advocated for the continuation of the sanctions and pressure initiated by President Donald Trump, and urged Washington not to give in to those who support rapprochement with the Cuban government.
He also warned about Havana's international alliances with countries such as Russia, China, and Iran, which he described as adversaries of the United States and democratic values.
Ferrer insisted that any relaxation of U.S. policy would only serve to strengthen the ruling elite in Cuba, whom he blames for the economic crisis, political repression, and the lack of freedoms on the island.
Recently, the opposition leader rejected the pardon of 2,010 prisoners announced by the regime on April 3 as a genuine humanitarian gesture for Holy Week, noting that it excluded the vast majority of the more than 1,214 political prisoners documented by Prisoners Defenders as of February 2026.
Among the prisoners whose release Ferrer demanded are Félix Navarro, Sayli Navarro, Maykel Osorbo, and Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara.
The opposition leader also dismissed the idea that the pardon was the result of a trade for Russian oil, stating that the Trump administration and Secretary of State Marco Rubio would not yield to the regime's manipulations, unlike what happened under the Biden administration.
Ferrer compared the current negotiations to those conducted under Biden, noting that Trump would not repeat those mistakes, and warned that those within the U.S. political system who facilitate or justify agreements with Havana are complicit in the dictatorship.
His stance aligns with that of Senator Rick Scott, who also criticized the regime's pardon for excluding political prisoners.
The context of his statements is marked by the severe energy crisis that Cuba has been experiencing since January 2026, when the capture of Nicolás Maduro cut between 80 and 90% of the Venezuelan oil imports, resulting in power outages of up to 20 hours a day and a health crisis throughout the island.
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