Cuba has released 553 prisoners, according to an agreement made in January with Joe Biden’s administration. The deal, mediated by the Vatican, was in return for being removed from the US terrorism blacklist. However, Donald Trump has reversed the decision, reinstating sanctions and temporarily halting the process. The USA had asked for ‘political prisoners’ to be released, but Cuban authorities classified the individuals as having committed diverse crimes. Around 200 of those released had been detained because they took part in the huge anti-government protests in July 2021, though officials claim they were convicted for other reasons. The protests, the largest since the 1959 revolution, stemmed from economic struggles, food shortages, and dissatisfaction with government policies. The release follows pressure from the USA, EU, Catholic Church, and human rights groups to free those jailed.